Nickel is a metal and the most common cause of metal allergy. Nickel allergy is a problem that once developed, recurs throughout life and is responsible for irritation and dermatitis. Usually, nickel allergy affects women more, as they use larger quantities of products and objects containing this metal. Nickel is often found in costume jewellery such as earrings, bracelets, rings, but also in piercings, buckles, bag handles, spectacle frames, but also in hair dyes, cosmetic products, in many objects and utensils, and finally, also in food.
How nickel allergy arises
Contact with nickel results in sensitisation that can give rise to a so-called contact allergy. The prevalence of sensitivity to nickel varies in different countries with a significant increase in the incidence of allergy in industrialised countries.
Among the risk factors that can trigger a nickel allergy are the concentration of metal, the threshold of which is set by a 1994 European directive, the frequency with which the individual comes into contact with the sensitising agent and the duration of contact. However, everyone reacts differently to contact with the metal, which is why some people develop a nickel allergy very quickly, while in others it only manifests itself after a long period of time. In this regard, it should be noted that the sweatingespecially in the summer and on particularly hot days, can provide a greater incentive for contact dermatitis to occur.
Nickel allergy: symptoms through which it manifests itself
The symptoms through which a nickel allergy manifests itself can be:
- dermatitis and itching on the face, hands, legs;
- mouth ulcers or inflammation of the mouth and gums;
- abdominal swellings;
- widespread general malaise;
- sense of tiredness and heaviness;
- sense of nausea;
- headache.
Nickel allergy: dermatological examination and patch test
If you experience these symptoms you should ascertain whether you are allergic by dermatological examination and special skin test PATCH TESTwhich consists of applying pads containing minimal doses of substances with allergenic potential to the back. These discs are fixed by hypoallergenic patches that must be maintained for 48 hours. After this time, upon removal, the doctor will assess the skin reaction and the presence of redness, oedema, blisters and papules, which, if present, will indicate the presence of allergy.
In the event that the doctor diagnoses an actual, full-blown nickel allergy, thecomplete abstention from metalboth in the contact that in theingestion of foods containing it. In the case of simple intolerance often with a elimination dieti.e. a diet that avoids all foods with a higher nickel content, followed by a rotation diet of food leads to a marked improvement in symptoms, especially inflammatory and intestinal symptoms.
Nickel allergy: symptoms and harmful foods
Nickel is present in many foodsthe amount contained is determined by the components of the soil where the food was grown, the fungicides and pesticides used, the equipment used in the production and processing process, and the cooking of the food.
Anyone with a strong intolerance or allergy to nickel should avoid the aluminium pots and the Teflon frying pans. Instead, you should use baking dishes at pyrex glass.
For nickel allergy sufferers, here is a short listcompiled by our dietician, with some of the foods that contain the most nickel:
1) Chocolate and cocoa powder: chocolate is one of the most concentrated sources of nickel. Chocolate fondant it contains 2.6 micrograms per gram, milk chocolate 1.2 and cocoa powder 9.8.
2) Cashew nuts: cashew nuts contain 5.1 micrograms of nickel per gram. Among dried fruits, cashews are one of the major sources of nickel, so you will need to be more careful with them, also considering that they are sometimes present in trace amounts in industrial and packaged products.
3) Tomatoes and vegetables: among vegetables richer in nickel we find the tomatoesbut nickel is also contained, albeit to a lesser extent, in asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, green beans, fennel, lettuce, celery, radicchio. Usually well tolerated are instead: cucumbers, pumpkin, courgettes, aubergines e peppers.
4) Spinach: spinach also contains a certain amount of nickel, amounting to 0.30 micrograms per gram and are among the vegetables to watch out for if you have a nickel allergy or intolerance, alongside foods such as tomatoes and lentils.
5) Legumes and nuts: those allergic to nickel should moderating consumption of legumes and dried fruits, with particular reference to lentils, to the chickpeas, to the soya, at walnutshazelnuts and almonds. I red beansfor example, contain 0.45 micrograms of nickel per gram.
6) Dried fruit: dried fruit contains larger quantities of nickel compared to fresh fruit. this could also be due to industrial processing. Among dried fruit, we can find figs, sultanas, apricots e prunes.
7) Drinks: those who are particularly sensitive to nickel should take care to certain drinks and beverages, with particular reference to the chocolate, at coffee, at tea and the beerbut also to all canned drinks.
8) Canned foods: preserved foods can increase their nickel content due to the container material. Beware of cans and tins. Canned foods include tuna, meat, pulses, fruit and vegetables. It is best to choose fresh food or food preserved in glass.
9) Cereals: among the cereals richest in nickel are theoatsthe maizethe millet and the buckwheat. One has to consider both cereal grains and their flours and packaged products that may contain them.
10) Seafood and fish: among the major sources of nickel are the seafood and the fish (well known
source of heavy metals), especially oysters, mussels, salmon and prawns, but also herring and mackerel.
Last but not least, it is important for nickel allergy sufferers to know that it is almost impossible to follow a diet that completely excludes this metal.
In some cases, one may be sensitive to certain foods but tolerate others well, even if they contain traces of nickel. To make the best choices, especially in severe cases, it is good to refer to qualified centres that make use of specialised personnel.
These articles are written by some of the centres' professionals MedikalBeauty Institute specialised in the field of slimming and united under the name of Art Slimhave been working for over 20 years to enable people to achieve their aesthetic ideal. For each person they create an all-round personalised path, from nutrition to the most suitable treatments.