What is a Metal Allergy?
A metal allergy is an allergy to metal, usually referenced in regards to jewelry, that some people experience. Although metal allergies can be to different types of metal, in most people this allergy is to a metal called nickel. Metal allergy is more common in women, with an estimated 12 percent of women being allergic to nickel, compared with only 6 percent of men.
An allergic reaction to nickel can be a highly irritating and even painful experience. Typically the skin breaks out in a rash, known as eczema, where it has come into contact with nickel. The affected skin turns red, becomes itchy, and usually breaks out into painful fluid-filled blisters. This type of eczema is known as pompholyx.
In the case of pierced ears, symptoms of nickel allergy usually include the earlobe swelling around the piercing, turning red, and itching. The hole usually also weeps a clear, yellowish fluid, a sign of infection. Although piercings can sometimes become infected due to other causes, persistent symptoms and infections that seem to occur after wearing certain earrings may indicate a metal allergy.
The reason so many people are susceptible to nickel allergies is because nickel tends to dissolve in moisture, forming salts. For instance, when you bathe, wash your hands, or sweat while you are wearing jewelry that contains nickel, the salts form and the skin becomes irritated. Nickel is a strong irritant, and repeated or continued contact with nickel can weaken the body’s natural resistance in people who are susceptible to metal allegy.
Interestingly, ear piercing seems to make a person more likely to develop a metal allergy, which may be why the allergy is more commonly seen in women than men. When the ear is pierced, an earring stud is usually left in the ear to hold the hole open until the skin around it heals. Since nickel tends to dissolve with exposure to moisture, and since the piercing is essentially an open wound until the skin heals, the nickel salts are able to enter the bloodstream and break down the body’s natural resistance.
For people with a metal allergy, it is possible to still wear jewelry, but a little extra care must be given. Cheap jewelry almost always contains nickel, and must be avoided. Even jewelry that is marketed as gold or silver may contain nickel, as this metal is often added to gold and silver to harden them. Even seemingly harmless items such as the metal buttons on jeans, a buckle on a watch, and even a metal-coated keypad on a cell phone can irritate the skin wherever they come into contact with it.
There is no allergy medication that can cure a metal allergy, but precautions can be taken to minimize or prevent the discomfort. Any time the wearer notices a rash developing, the cause must be removed as soon as possible. Topical steroids can be an effective allergy treatment, but must be prescribed by a doctor. Emollient creams offer another form of treatment, but all they can do is to relieve the itching of the rash, not prevent it. Plastic covers can be purchased for earring studs to enable someone with a metal allergy to wear cheaper earrings, but the common approach of painting earring studs or necklace chains with clear nail polish is not advised, as sweat and moisture will quickly dissolve it.
Living with a metal allergy is difficult at times, because it requires the person to anticipate whenever metal might come into contact with their skin long enough to cause an allergic reaction. However, with a little foresight and planning, it is possible for someone with a metal allergy to avoid discomfort and still lead a normal life.
Written by Katharine Swan
