Title:Nickel Allergy of the Skin and Beyond
Volume: 20
Issue: 7
Author(s): Malena Gergovska, Razvigor Darlenski*Jana Kazandjieva
Affiliation:
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Acibadem City Clinic Tokuda Hospital, Sofia,Bulgaria
Keywords:
Contact dermatitis, diet, hand eczema, metal implant, nickel allergy, specific nickel-scavenging agents, treatment.
Abstract:
Background: Hypersensitization to nickel is one of the most common contact allergies in
the modern world and it is considered to be a major cause of contact dermatitis, especially for hand
eczema.
Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe many faces of the nickel allergy and to find out different
diagnostic, potential strategies for treatment and prevention in hypersensitized patients. A personal
clinical experience with practical clinical cases of contact dermatitis to nickel has also been presented.
Methods: Electronic databases on this topic was carried out using PubMed-Medline.
Results: The literature review identified many articles reporting for nickel contact allergy and pointing
the metal as number one allergen in the frequency of positive skin patch test reactions in a large population
worldwide. Herein, a summary of the current understanding and evidence on nickel allergy with
practical approach and proposed recommendations to the dermatologist, general practitioner, and the
allergist were prepared.
Conclusion: The prevalence of nickel allergy represents an important socio-economical and health
issue. Metal is one of the most common sensitizing agents worldwide. The morbidity due to this metal
represents the allergic contact dermatitis and it is constantly growing in many countries. There are also
cases of systemic allergic contact dermatitis, where they could be easily misdiagnosed as adverse drug
reactions, which lead to delay of the correct diagnosis and inappropriate treatment.