Nickel Allergy

In the first part of this article we found out about what is Allergic Contact Dermatitis and how it is caused. Let us find out more.

The Clinical Look: The allergy may not be only confined to the place of contact. If you handle a material with your hands and then touch your eyelids, your eyelids will also develop allergic reaction. Unless the dermatitis is severe, it is confined to the area of contact. The skin may become red, itchy and blistered. With repeated allergic reactions, skin deteriorates further and becomes thick and cracked.

Common Allergens: Common allergens include nickel, poison ivy, some makeup preparations, latex, hair dye, antibiotics such as neomycin, etc. You may find out if you are allergic to any substance with a patch test. By applying the suspected allergen to a small spot for few days and watching the reaction of the skin will indicate the allergy causing potential of that material. Your doctor will guide you more about how to conduct this test. Some examples are - a jewelery piece containing nickel, nickel straps, latex gloves, reaction to permanent hair dye, reaction to topical antibiotic such as neomycin, etc. If the allergy arises, after the skin that had come in contact with the allergen is exposed to sunlight, it is called photo allergy. In this case, the other contact sites will not develop allergy, but only those parts that get exposed to sunlight.

Treatment: The first need is to avoid contact with allergens. In case of dermatitis developing, it may be treated with topical antibiotics, steroids, or immuno-modulators. Systematic medicines such as antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics, may be used depending upon the severity of the reaction. Your doctor is the best person to prescribe treatment.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

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