Irritated Skin After Shaving? You Could Have a Nickel Allergy

If you passed chemistry class in school, you probably remember learning about a chemical element known as nickel.

But you probably don't remember your teacher saying that this silver-white metal is one of the most ubiquitous elements on the planet.

Today it's used in more than 300,000 different products, including mobile phones, coins, and keys.

Consequently, nickel is a staple of our daily lives. It's an incredibly useful metal.

The Science Behind Nickel Allergy

Nickel allergy is a type of allergic contact dermatitis. Some people call it "eczema."

It's one of the most common skin allergies out there.

In fact:

Around 10 percent of Americans are allergic to the lustrous silver-white metal.

If you know you have a nickel allergy, here are some nickel free razor options for you.

Nickel allergy occurs when a person that is sensitive to nickel comes into contact with it and consequently has an adverse reaction.

You see:

Under normal circumstances, your immune system defends your body against dangerous substances, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins.

However:

If you're sensitive to nickel, your immune system mistakenly thinks that the lustrous metal is a harmful intruder and starts producing a hormone called histamine to ward off the substance.

The result?

An allergic reaction!

Here's how it works:

Nonetheless, nickel sensitivity is more common in women, and in particular, in teenage girls.

Indeed:

Nickel affects around 17 percent of women and only five percent of men.

There's a good reason for that:

Ear piercing is considered the number one thing that starts up nickel allergy. Seeing how more women than men have their ears pierced, it only makes sense that females are more sensitive to nickel than males.

And get this:

Your job might have something to do with your nickel allergy too.

Those who are in constant contact with nickel are more likely to have an allergic response.

Why?

Because repeated exposure to it can lead to increased sensitization.

Hairdressers, nurses, caterers, people who handle cash daily and people who work with metals see an increased risk of becoming allergic to nickel.

Most people that are allergic to nickel find that they get a rash only when they handle objects that contain nickel for a prolonged period or if their skin is damp or broken (i.e., sunburned, sweaty or cut).

In addition:

If you're allergic to other metals, you're more likely to be allergic to nickel too.

But don't think that you're safe if you avoid cheap jewelry, have no other allergies or work an office job that requires no contact with metals.

Fact is:

Sensitivity to nickel may be inherited.

In the 1930s, knitting needles and garters were the most common nickel allergy triggers. In the 1970s, they were replaced by piercing jewelry, jeans buttons, and costume jewelry.

Today, tech gadgets are the biggest offenders. These include phones, laptops, iPad tablets, and even activity training wristbands.

In 2014, for example, Fitbit recalled one million devices after its consumers complained of strange skin reactions attributed to nickel and adhesives.

Image via Pixabay

A Rash Is Not the Only Telltale Sign You Are Sensitive to Nickel

If you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Dry skin patches that resemble a burn
• Changes in skin color (for example redness)
• Skin rash
• Skin bumps
• Itching
• Blisters (in severe cases)
• Pain (in extremely severe cases)

You are probably sensitive to nickel.

The good news is:

An allergic reaction usually occurs in the exact area where your skin came into contact with nickel.

This is particularly true if you handle objects made from nickel and if traces of the metal remain on your fingertips.

Consuming food that contains nickel (more on this later) could have similar effects, including:

• Uncontrollable itching
• Dry or rough skin
• Discolored skin
• Thick, scaly or even raw skin
• Overtly tender skin
• Blisters

That sounds pretty awful, right?

And yet it can get even worse.

If your reaction to nickel is severe, you could experience respiratory problems including nasal inflammation, runny nose, sneezing, and asthma.

Severe symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, could also indicate that you have systematic nickel allergy syndrome.

But the annoying thing is:

The delay in nickel allergy symptoms makes it hard to figure out what exactly is causing an allergic reaction.

Confused?

Let us explain:

While in most cases nickel allergy occurs within 12 to 48 hours, sometimes symptoms can come a week after contact with nickel.

While the most common health effect of nickel is an allergic reaction, people working in nickel-processing plants or nickel refineries complain of reduced lung function and chronic bronchitis. Some have even developed cancer.

However, the amounts of nickel breathed in by these persons is higher than the amounts typically found in the environment.

Image via Pixabay

Pretty Much Everything Around You Contains Nickel

As we've already established, nickel is extremely hard to avoid.

Because nickel is resistant to high heat and corrosion, it's used in countless everyday items.

These include:

As bizarre as it sounds:

Small amounts of nickel also appear in a large number of foods.

Foods that contain nickel include:

• Black tea
• Nuts
• Soy milk
• Chocolate
• Grains such as oats, whole wheat pasta, multigrain bread, and cereals
• Vegetables such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, and all canned vegetables
• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and peas
• Fruits such as pears, bananas, and all canned fruits
• Soy products such as tofu

Does that mean that you potentially have to give up the foods that you love?

Not necessarily.

But:

Your doctor might advise you to eat some of the above foods in moderation.

Nickel is the only element in the world named after the devil. Its name is derived from "Kupfernickel," a German word that means "Old Nick's copper" or "the devil's copper."

Back in the 15th-century German miners tried to extract copper from an ore that looked like a copper ore but was actually a nickel ore. Instead of copper, they extracted what they thought to be a useless material.

Believing that the devil (or "Old Nick") was playing tricks on them, they named the fake copper "the devil's copper."

Image via Pixabay

You can test your razor for nickel

Testing your razor for nickel is easier than it sounds.

All you need is dimethylglyoxime spot test, also known as DMG test, which you can find at your local drugstore, or online.

The test contains a solution that turns pink when rubbed onto a metallic surface (such as a razor) that contains nickel.

If you discover that your razor isn't nickel-free, you'll want to switch to a hypoallergenic shaver.

When in doubt, purchase a hypoallergenic razor

The one razor blade brand that caters to people with skin sensitivities

Blades are usually made from stainless steel which contains nickel. No matter how low the proportions of the metal, if you're allergic to nickel you'll probably end up with a nasty rash.

Even though stainless steel that is nickel-free exists, it is not very useful.

There are plenty of nickel-free electric shavers too

Shaving foils in electric shavers also contain small amounts of nickel.

Luckily, there are quite a few brands out there that cater to those with skin sensitivities.

Panasonic is yet another company that does not want to leave its customers that suffer from nickel allergies in the lurch. It offers both regular electric shavers and travel shavers.

Treat Your Nickel Allergy Before It's Too Late

The best way to treat a nickel allergy is to determine what caused the allergic reaction and stay away from that item, as well as other items that contain nickel.

Fail to do so, and you might find it impossible to clear up the rash, even when you're no longer in contact with nickel.

On average:

Nickel allergy symptoms last between two to four weeks.

If cutting all physical contact with nickel does nothing for your rash, there are some home remedies you can try.

Home remedies might help

Home remedies might help you soothe your allergic reaction.

For example, soothing lotions may ease the itchiness. Calamine lotion is a good choice.

Wet compresses can also relieve itching and help dry blisters. Try soaking a clean cloth or towel in water or Burrow's solution, a medication that contains aluminum acetate.

Something to keep in mind:

Avoid over-the-counter lotions such as antibiotic creams. They contain ingredients that can worsen your allergic reaction. One such ingredient to watch out for is neomycin.

If not, try medications

Medications that help control inflammation and lessen your body's histamine response are often used to treat rashes caused by nickel allergies.

These include:

• Oral antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone
• Corticosteroid creams such as betamethasone dipropionate (Diprolene) or clobetasol (Clobex)
• Nonsteroid creams such as tacrolimus (Protopic) or pimecrolimus (Elidel)

Antihistamines and certain corticosteroid creams are available over the counter and online.

For example:

Long-term use of Corticosteroid creams can cause skin thinning whereas the consumption of oral corticosteroids can lead to weight gain, increased blood pressure and mood swings.

And of course:

If you want a stronger version of these medications, you'll have to see your doctor first.

Bear in mind that you'll probably have to try a variety of medications before you find one that works for you.

Phototherapy is your last resort

If all else fails, your doctor will most likely recommend phototherapy.

Also known as light therapy, phototherapy involves the use of artificial ultraviolet light on the affected area of your skin.

However:

Phototherapy is an incredibly long process.

It can take months and months of regular phototherapy treatments to produce results.

Why Preventing a Nickel Allergy Is Easier Said than Done

If your skin is wet, sweaty, raw or broken, nickel is more likely to pass through the surface. In consequence, you are more likely to react to it.

Sometimes You Need to See Your Doctor ASAP

If you develop a rash and you don't know why it's a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor.

Also:

See your doctor if home remedies and over the counter medications fail to relieve your symptoms or if your skin is infected. The latter especially should not be taken lightly.

Why?

Because the infection is not going to go away until treated.

How to know if your skin is infected?

As a rule of thumb:

Yellow, crusted skin that smells odd is probably infected. Keep in mind that skin that is moist, broken or raw is infected more easily than dry skin.

In general, see your doctor if you experience:

Prepare for your scheduled appointment by writing down your symptoms, making a list of all the drugs that you take (including dietary supplements and vitamins) and formulating questions that you might want to ask. Furthermore, note down any new foods or products that you might have tried recently.

Nickel: Can't Live with It, Can't Live Without It

Having a nickel allergy is beyond annoying.

Suddenly, you find that you can't wear certain jewelry or touch certain things, at least not if you want to avoid redness and rashes and possibly even blisters.

Heck, you can't even shave without getting a rash or developing dry skin patches.

But it's not all bad.

There are numerous effective measures you can take to avoid triggering your allergic reaction to nickel.

You can coat jewelry with nail varnish, cover zippers and mobile phone parts with a clear barrier, and opt for safer substitutes such as watchbands made of leather as opposed to metal.

As for your razor?

You can replace it with a hypoallergenic shaver.

Sure, these small changes will take some getting used to. But they're worth it.

Featured Image: CC0 via Pixabay