Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Hi and welcome to Titan Jewellery’s Titanium and Metal Allergy Information Guide! We’ve written this brief guide to help increase the public’s knowledge of metal allergies, and how they can be avoided, and in many cases prevented.

Many people know that some metals can produce reactions on a person’s skin, including rashes and even blistering. This site will endeavour to explain why this occurs, and provide other resources and updates.

Nickel

Nickel is without doubt the primary reason people experience skin reactions. The following is an excerpt from the Queensland Department of Health’s fact sheet on nickel in jewellery:

“The most common adverse health effect associated with wearing jewellery that contains nickel is a type of skin irritation called allergic contact dermatitis. A person can develop an allergy to nickel following repeated contact with nickel found in jewellery. Sweat from the skin acts as a corrosive to metals, which allows nickel in jewellery to be in direct contact with the skin.

Once a person is sensitised to nickel, any further contact with nickel will cause an allergic reaction. Nickel sensitivity is usually persistent for life.

Allergic contact dermatitis produces a red, irritating and itchy rash that may persist for several days. In severe cases blisters may form. This rash will develop about two days after exposure.”

So reactions can be quite severe, and can also develop over time. Just because you don’t have a reaction now, doesn’t mean you won’t in the future. The article continues to explain where nickel is found, and how you can prevent these reactions occurring, or even prevent the gradual onset of allergic contact dermatitis:

“You are most likely to come into contact with nickel by wearing nickel-containing jewellery such as earrings, body rings or studs, watches, rings and bracelets. Nickel is also used in the manufacture of clothing (eg. Belt buckles, clasps, zippers, jeans buttons) and clothing accessories (eg. Handbags).

Nickel may also be present in white and yellow gold jewellery in varying proportions. Nickel is added to gold jewellery as a hardener and therefore may be found in ‘finer’ jewellery, including wedding rings. Dermatitis may occur years later as the exterior wears away exposing the nickel.

Jewellery that is silver, solid gold of more than 14 carat, or labelled ‘hypoallergenic’ should be safe in most cases. However, high quality stainless steel and titanium are the better nickel-safe options for jewellery.”

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