Facts about Metal Allergies

Posted on January 29, 2008 in Latest News

Metal allergies are among the chief sources of allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel, cobalt and chromate are among the metals most likely to trigger reactions. Symptoms include a skin rash that can develop into blisters and damaged skin.

Causes

Metal allergy occurs mainly in women who use the cheap earrings or other jewelry made from high-nickel alloys. Other sources of metal allergy include everything from soil and seawater to cement and shoe leather. Also, men have higher incidences of metal allergy related to occupational exposures. Many construction materials contain metals that can trigger allergic reactions. The increasing popularity of body piercing has led to an increase in the incidence of metal allergies in both men and women.
How is the allergy against metals tested ?

The generally used test is called patch testing:  the salts of the studied metal are mixed with a non-allergic ointment and then applied direct on the skin and the reaction of the skin is evaluated after 48 hours.

Diagnosis
A metal allergy can be diagnosed by having a physician conduct a skin patch test, which introduces various allergens to a patient’s skin to see if a reaction occurs. Once an allergy has been diagnosed, patients should try to minimize exposure to the metal triggering their symptoms.

Many implanted devices (e.g., surgical clamps, coronary stents) consist of, or contain, metals that can cause sensitivity or allergic reactions. As a result, patients should make all of their physicians aware of their metal allergies once they have been diagnosed.

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