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40 percent increase in nickel
allergies is blamed on body piercing rage.
Some ingest nickel in foods and from chewing pens and paper clips.
Body piercing may be a popular
trend, but it has created an equally unpopular trend in allergic
reactions, says David E. Cohen, MD, MPH, assistant professor
of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. According
to Dr. Cohen, frequently chosen sites for piercing that have
displayed allergic responses include, not only earlobes, but
upper portions of the ears, lips, nose, tongue, navel, breasts
and genitalia as well.
In addition to developing a reaction
to nickel from body or ear piercing, foods high in nickel can
also set off an allergic reaction in a small group of patients
according to Dr. Cohen and other experts such as Pamela Scheinman,
MD, dermatologist and allergy specialist with the New England
Medical Center. Such foods include shellfish, chocolate milk
and beans. "The allergy can even develop from something
as simple as chewing on pens and paper clips while at work,"
notes Dr. Scheinman.
Over the past five years there has been a 40 percent increase
in the number people who test positive to nickel, with 14.5 percent
now allergic to a metal that appears in just about everything
we touch - drawer pulls, eyeglass frames, paper clips and, of
course, earrings and other jewelry items. Dr. Cohen notes that
among all chemical allergens capable of producing an allergic
skin disease, nickel is the most common in North America. Cobalt
and chromium can also produce allergic reactions, but to a lesser
degree than nickel.
Dr. Cohen stresses, "Ten
to fifteen percent of those who develop a nickel allergy do so
when their body is pierced with an instrument containing nickel.
The immune system reacts in the same way as it would if an artificial
joint were implanted and, once a nickel allergy develops, it
lasts for a lifetime."
Says Dr. Cohen, "Surgical-grade stainless steel and titanium
are safer materials, even for those allergic to nickel,"
adding, "When piercing any part of the body, use only safe
and sterile equipment. At the first sign of infection, or allergic
reaction, consult your dermatologist." Dr. Cohen is a Fellow
of the American Academy of Dermatology, a member of the American
Contact Dermatitis Society, and director of occupational and
environmental dermatology at NYU Medical Center. He spoke recently
at an AAD public education program in New York to mark November
as National Healthy Skin Month.
Supporters of AAD education programs
such as National Healthy Skin Month include Roman Research, manufacturer
of Simply Whispers and other nickel-safe jewelry products and
watches. In addition to its participation with the AAD, Roman
Research is promulgating new jewelry labeling standards to better
inform consumers about body piercing and nickel risks. "Experts
agree the term 'hypoallergenic' is confusing. We need to create
labeling consumers can trust," says Dale Southworth, president
of Roman Research in Hanson, Massachusetts. Southworth is assembling
a team of medical and communication experts to develop effective
labeling standards for nickel-safe jewelry and other products.
A leading guide used by dermatologists,
Fisher's Contact Dermatitis by Drs. Alexander A. Fisher,
Joseph F. Fowler and Robert L. Rietschel, cites Roman Research
as a reliable source of nickel-safe jewelry. In 1970, the company
invented the first one-step ear piercing system to eliminate
the danger of developing a nickel allergy by using a surgical
stainless steel stud to puncture the lobe. In addition, the sterilized
stud is used only once and remains in place until the puncture
heals, thus eliminating transfer of pathogens from one individual
to another. Today, the company manufactures nickel-safe fine
and fashion jewelry exclusively. Products are manufactured from
surgical stainless steel with 24 kt. gold electroplating or of
nickel-free alloys with 24 kt. gold or palladium electroplating.
The American Academy of Dermatology is the largest medical society
representing physicians who specialize in treating conditions
of the skin, hair and nails. |
