Metal allergy

Allergy to metal – sounds exotic in itself. Those who have encountered this problem are not in the mood for jokes: swelling of the earlobes, irritation and redness of the skin on the hands, itchy spots in the décolleté area. A metal belt buckle, fasteners on fashionable jeans, metal money – and they cause a lot of trouble.

Contact dermatitis or metal allergy affects 10% of the population. Where does this disease come from? After all, metal has no smell, it is not consumed internally, and it does not have the property of crumbling like pollen.

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Causes of metal allergy

Statistics claim that residents of large industrial cities are especially susceptible to metal allergies. Often, the disease lurks and manifests itself after a while. The allergen can live in the body for several days or even years without causing any problems. The slowness of the reaction is due to the following factors:

• activity of the stimulus itself;
• state of the immune background;
• age of the patient;
• nature of sensitivity to the allergen.

Allergies to metals most often occur when in contact with nickel, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, mercury. Jewelry made of gold, platinum, silver, as a rule, does not cause irritation. An exception may be alloys of precious metals with nickel, copper, etc.

Allergy to metal, the reasons for its occurrence are rooted in long-term contact with an allergen that enters the body through the skin. The body's cells change their chemical composition under the influence of metal ions. Thus, some rebuilt protein cells are perceived by the body itself as harmful, and a protective reaction is developed against them.

In addition, individual intolerance to a certain type of metal is taken into account, which triggers an immunological process.

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Symptoms of Metal Allergy

Allergy to metal is most often detected after a few days. Signs appear directly at the point of contact with the allergen. However, there are known cases of nickel ingestion, which is part of chocolate or fish. Hidden threats include bra fasteners, zippers and metal buttons on clothing.

Signs of a metal allergy include:

• skin rash, peeling or keratinization of the upper layer of the epidermis;
• redness resembling a skin burn;
• unbearable itching;
• the appearance of blisters filled with clear fluid;
• increase in temperature.

At the first signs of allergic contact dermatitis, it is better to consult an allergist.

Treatment of metal allergy

Allergy to metal is associated with decreased immunity. In order to maintain the body's defenses, doctors recommend preventive measures, including:

• enriching the diet with fresh fruits and vegetables;
• hardening procedures;
• walks in the fresh air;
• physical exercise.

If an allergy to metal manifests itself, you need to seek medical help. You should avoid contact with metal. For example, remove jewelry and in a few weeks the signs of allergy will disappear. The ointments "polcortolone", "advantan" will help to cope with the symptoms of irritation and inflammation. Both drugs are potent, so they are applied in a thin layer no more than 2-3 times a day. Treatment is prescribed for up to 7 days.

The best remedy for removing toxic substances from the body is considered to be "phytosorbovit-plus". The active dietary supplement helps cells cleanse themselves of heavy metal salts and relieve symptoms of intoxication during allergies. The natural complex "phytosorbovit" contains tansy flowers, rose hips, and senna leaves. It perfectly relieves swelling and skin inflammation. Lactobacilli included in the supplement increase immunity. The recommended daily dose for adults is: 2-3 tablets with meals up to 4 times. The therapeutic effect is achieved in 2-3 weeks of use. The drug is not prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Good results in the treatment of metal allergies are achieved by using the homeopathic remedy "lymphomyosot". The adult dose of the drug is up to 15 drops twice or three times a day before meals. The remedy consists of natural components and is used even to treat newborns. The dosage for children is 3-8 drops.

Antihistamines (suprastin, tavegil) that are common among allergy sufferers are powerless in cases of contact allergic dermatitis.

Sometimes wearing earrings, bracelets, chains made of non-precious metals is acceptable. But the duration of such jewelry on your body should be limited. Here everything depends on your individual sensitivity, as a rule, it is several hours (visiting). Do not abuse base metals and wear them no more than once a week.

If you have any doubts about which particular item is causing your hypersensitivity, perform a simple test. For a period of time, give up all jewelry until the symptoms of metal allergy pass. Then attach the object of suspicion (earring, part of a bracelet) to the skin of the forearm area for three days, including at night. If the metal allergy reappears, then you have found the cause.

What should fashionistas and fashionistas do? You can order ear wires or ears (the part of the earring that touches the earlobe) from a precious metal that does not cause allergic reactions in you from a jewelry workshop. This will allow you to attach your favorite earrings to them. With bracelets and pendants, things are more complicated. But there is one trick here too - covering the side of the jewelry that touches the body with clear nail polish. Dear allergy sufferers, do not forget to check the polish for the absence of toxic substances, which are called big3free. These include well-known ones - Essie, L'Oreal, Revlon, etc. Also, follow the rules of personal hygiene: regularly treat your jewelry with special products, clean it from dust and dirt.

An allergy to the metal of a newly purchased piece of jewelry can be caused by:

• residues of irritating agents used during soldering or polishing of the product;
• due to infection remaining on the jewelry after previous fittings;
• the design of the fastener itself may be poor and cause mechanical irritation (mechanical urticaria).

Before dental prosthetics, installation of braces, you should inform the dentist about your allergy to metal. Nickel is used in the manufacture of crowns, braces. If you do not know whether you have an allergy to metal, you need to do tests for the allergen.

It should be noted that people with nickel intolerance should follow a certain diet, excluding: processed cheeses, baked goods with oats, oat flakes, nuts, smoked fish, cherries, soy, green tea, alcohol. Do not abuse sour foods such as citrus fruits, sauerkraut, some berries. It is advisable to cook in clay, glass or enamel cookware.

Metal allergy is an unpleasant disease that requires following these rules:

• buy gold or silver jewelry without nickel admixture;
• the period of wearing jewelry should be limited;
• remove rings, earrings, and chains before going to bed (not only because of concerns about dermatitis, but also for the purpose of energetically cleansing your jewelry);
• Use alternating gold and silver pieces.