METAL ALLERGIES

Nickel is the most common metal allergy, but other metals, including gold, can cause irritating skin reactions.  More women than men are affected by nickel allergies, perhaps as a result of wearing earrings and other jewelry that contain this metal.  Nickel is a common alloy in many metals, so a person with a severe nickel allergy could experience skin eruptions from contact with common items like zippers, scissors, and nickel coins.  Although confirmations of metal allergies are made after patch testing, allergists can suspect the existence of metal allergies by observing the locations of rashes on the body.  Once a nickel allergy has been diagnosed, all contact with objects made with the offending metal should be avoided.

P.S.  The role of consuming foods with high nickel content in skin rash development remains highly controversial

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