Nickel Test Kit

SIMPLE TO USE:

• Moisten a cotton-tipped applicator with two drops of the first solution, add two drops of the second, and rub well on the object.
• The swab will turn pink if available nickel is present.
• Sensitivity to nickel in jewelry, watchbands, keys and other common items. The test detects free nickel down to a limit of 10 ppm (parts/million).
• The sensitivity threshold of most nickel allergic patients is above 11 ppm

NICKEL ALLERGIES

Patients with a known, or who suspect they have, a metal allergy will find the following information on metal allergies, and particularly nickel sensitivity, useful in helping them to avoid nickel exposure and resulting allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).

SUSPECTING METAL ALLERGY

The metals that most commonly cause ACD are nickel, chrome and cobalt. In addition many other metals have occasionally been shown to cause ACD, although with a much lower incidence than the first three. Gold, palladium and platinum have been responsible for ACD from jewelry and sometimes industrial exposure. Many metals and metal salts are irritatimg to the skin, even in absence of ACD.

DESCRIPTION OF NICKEL

Nickel is hard, strong, silver-white metal that resists corrosion and is used for electroplating and making alloys. Principal exposure is through costume jewelry (usually the inexpensive type) and other metal objects. Nickel is also known as niccolum sulfuricum.

JEWELRY DERMATITIS

The most classic presentation of metal allergy is jewelry dermatitis; among the types of jewelry, earings seem to be the greatest culprit. Presumably this is because the pieced earring actually penetrates the epidermal barrier, allowing potential exposure to tissue fluids at the time of piercing and again thereafter should trauma or infection occur. Some metal-sensitive individuals react only to earrings and are able to wear rings, necklaces, or other jewelry without difficulty. Wristwatch buckles and bands and eyeglass frames are also possible causes of metal jewelry dermatitis.

Skin discoloration that sometimes takes place on the skin under jewelry (known as black dermographism) usually results from the reaction of sulphides and chlorides in perspiration with the gold alloy. This should not be mistaken for an allergic reaction.

Symptoms may worsen during various seasons or times of increased perspiration. This occurs because sweat can cause leaching or dissolving out of metals.

EXPOSURE LIST

Nickel is found in many metallic items either electroplated or as alloy. They often have silvery appearance and include the following:
1 Costume jewelry (especially earring, silver or white gold)
2 Wearing apparel(snaps, buttons, zippers, etc.)
3 Coins and keys
4 Tools utensils and instruments
5 Metal parts of furniture
6 Batteries
7 Machinery parts
8 Metal-cutting fluids and coolants
9 Nickel plating for alloys such as new silver, Chinese silver and German silver.

SOURCES OF NICKEL DERMATITIS

Location Nickel Source
Scalp Hairpins, curlers and bobby pins
Eyelids Eyelash curler
Earlobes Earrings
Back of Ears Eyeglass frames
Sides of Face Bobby pins, curlers, dental instruments, transfer from hands
Lips Metal pins held in mouth and in metal lipstick holder
Neck Clasp of necklace and zipper
Upper chest Medallions and metal identification tags
Abdomen Metal buttons on blue jeans
Breast Wire brassiere support
Thighs Garter clasps, metal chairs, metal coins in the pockets, etc
Palms Handles of doors, handbags, metal tools or parts in workplace
Fingers Rings, thimbles, needles, scissors, coins and pens, paper clips, etc.
Wrist Watchbands, bracelets, metal buttons
Arms Bracelets
Ankles Bracelets
Top of foot Metal eyelets of shoes
Legs Zipper of boots

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

Men have a greater frequency of sensitization to nickel at work than women.
Wet work tends to increase the likelihood of a sensitization. The following are listings of examples of occupations at risk and sources of possible occupational nickel exposure. Occupations at Risk Occupational Nickel Source
Metal Workers Alkaline Batterie
Electroplater Blackening zinc and bras
Hairdresser Ceramics
Nurse, medical or dental assistant Coatings (electroplating)
Tailor Duplicating fluids and fluxes (brazing)
Cook, Waitress Dyes
Cleaning person Electrical wiring
Office worker Enamel (green: nickel oxide)
Electronics worker Fuel additives
Dairy worker Hardening of fats (acts as catalyst)
Librarian Insecticides
Chemical Cleaner Magnet cores
Engine fitter Mordant in dying and printing fabrics
Locksmith Nickel alloys, nickel plating
Chemical worker Paint for glass
Electrician Pigments of wallpaper and paint
Construction worker Reagents and catalysts (plastics)

DIETARY EXPOSURE
The dietary role of nickel in metal hypersensitivity has been highly researched. However, it is not been found to be a significant contributor to ACD. The practicality of diet modification is variable, depending on the patient’s willingness to take necessary measures. It is also difficult because the nickel content of various foods can vary greatly. Additionally, the use of fresh vegetables and fruits in place of canned foods could also be beneficial, if desired. The following is a list of foods high in nickel content:

Baked Soda Cocoa/Chocolate
Gelatin Kippered herring
Nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts) Oats
Peas Red kidney beans
Rye Soya beans/legume
Tea Whole wheat

PREVENTION OR AVOIDANCE OF NICKEL

The most effective means of preventing nickel sensitization would be to reduce exposure to nickel from costume jewelry, particulary earrings, and other nickel containing materials. When purchasing earrings ask for stainless steel studs in order to avoid nickel. Also in occupational risk areas protective devices (gloves, etc.) Should be used.

Examples of measures that can be taken include:
1 Ears could be pierced only with hyoallegenic surgical steel parts.
2 Avoid wearing pierced earrings if any inflammation develops.
3 Clear nail polish can be used to coat jewelry and clothing buttons. This should be repeated weekly to maintain barrier.
4 A jeweler can plate the jewelry with rhodium or platinum (not palladium)
5 Keys can be made of aluminum instead of nickel.
6 All metal jewelry or objects with which prolonged contac occurs should be tested with a nickel spot test.