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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
An allergic reaction is somewhat like a case of mistaken identity within your body's immune system. Normally, your immune system reacts to protect your body against bacteria, viruses or toxic substances.
If you have nickel allergy, your body reacts to nickel. In other words, it's mistakenly identified nickel as something that could harm you. Once your body has developed a reaction to a particular agent (allergen) — in this case, nickel — your immune system will always be sensitive to it. When you come into contact with nickel, your immune system responds and produces an inflammatory response.
Your immune system's sensitivity to nickel may develop after your first exposure or after repeated or prolonged exposure.
The cause of nickel allergy is unknown, but sensitivity to nickel may, in part, be inherited (genetic).
Sources of nickel exposure
Nickel allergy is most commonly associated with earrings and other jewelry for body piercings that contain some nickel. Common sources of nickel exposure include:
- Jewelry for body piercings
- Other jewelry, including rings, bracelets, necklaces and jewelry clasps
- Watchbands
- Clothing fasteners, such as zippers, snaps and bra hooks
- Belt buckles
- Suspender clips
- Hairpins
- Eyeglass frames
- Coins
- Kitchen utensils
- Paper clips
- Pens
- Keys
- Tools, such as hammers and screwdrivers
- Davis MD, et al. Changing trends and allergens in the patch test standard series: A Mayo Clinic 5-year retrospective review, January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2005. Archives of Dermatology. 2008;144(1):67-72.
- Tips to remember: Allergic skin conditions. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/allergicskinconditions.stm. Accessed July 14, 2008.
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- Weston WL, et al. Patient Information: Dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 22, 2008.
- Tattoos and body piercing. American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org/members/media/_doc/FactSheets_TattoosBody%20Piercing%20Fact%20Sheet.doc. Accessed July 30, 2008.
- Meltzer DI. Complications of body piercing. American Family Physician 2005;72(10):2029-2034.
- Position statement on body piercing (approved by the board of directors October 24, 1998). American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org/Forms/Policies/Uploads/PS/PS-Body%20Piercing%206-15-07.pdf. Accessed July 30, 2008.
- Do's and don'ts when considering tattoos or piercings. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/DosAndDontsConsideringTattoosPiercings.aspx. Accessed July 29, 2008.
- Torpy JM, et al. JAMA patient page. Body piercing. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2004;291(8):1024.
