Nickel Allergy

Updated on May 31, 2014
A.W. asks from Covington, LA
13 answers

My eight year old son has recently been diagnosed with a nickel allergy. He get a really bad rash under his belly button (due to nickel buttons n zippers) and when he scratches it spreads all over his body. Even foods he eats break him out sometimes. He cannot even wear bluejeans because the buttons all have Nickel. His baseball pants also have nickel in the snaps. Do any other moms have suggestions for me? Thanks for the help.

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So What Happened?

Thx guys!!! I will try all of these suggestions! It beats applying hydrocortisone cream to him every night!

Featured Answers

J.S.

answers from Richland on

Tuck his shirts in? Most kids with allergies know how to protect themselves. Tucking his shirts in keeps the snaps, buttons, whatever away from his skin

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V.S.

answers from Reading on

Nickle allergies aren't uncommon. I've always heard to paint nickel surfaces with clear nail polish.

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

What about sewing in a thick square of fabric on the inside of his pants to cover the button from the inside?

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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

I have the same problem with some metals. I've used clear nail polish on watches and zippers, and that has helped. I've also used the technique that Jennifer suggested by sewing cloth over buttons when feasible, when nail polish hasn't done the trick or it's just not enough.

Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I have this same problem, I do what Maureen suggested and put polish on the portion of metal that touches my skin, or I tuck in my shirts or wear an undershirt that is tucked in. I can no longer wear necklaces, I have to wear watches that are not tight to my wrist, gave up on earrings and have to let my fingers rest from rings for a day or two.

I am not allergic to food, it is possible he has multiple allergies, but the only way to know us to have him tested.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Clear nail polish, on the button the part that will touch his skin.

Bandaids on the metal that will touch his skin.

creating a barrier between the metal and his skin should do the trick.

Eating, I am guessing if the pans that are used are made out of nickel? Yikes that could be a tough one. You would need to research the ones that bother him, and get different ones I would suspect.

Good luck.

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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Looks like everyone else has the same advice I do - clear nail polish. You have to keep reapplying though, so your best bet is to avoid it as much as possible - sometime you can find dress pants with plastic zippers and buttons. When casual, let him wear nylon running pants instead of jeans. But in those situations where you have no other choice, put on a few coats of the polish on whatever is metal.

And he has a good reason to never ever get a piercing :) I have pierces ears, but pretty much can't wear earrings.

I'm not sure what would be in the food though. Are you sure it's the same allergy? I think he might have a food allergy in addition to his metal allergy. Have you tried keeping a food diary to track down what food specifically causes the problem?

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

My friend has this same issue. She sews an extra scrap of maternal over the button on the inside so they don't touch her skin. In a pinch a piece of duck tape works as well.

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J.W.

answers from Detroit on

My mom has this, too. She get bias tape( I think that is what it is called) from the fabric store, cuts a piece of it and sew it over the inside of the button/snap where the metal would touch her skin. It works well for her and once it it done, it's done.

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

I'll be watching for suggestions. My 15 year old son has this problem with belt buckles, he can't wear a belt unless his shirt is tucked in.

M

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

My mother has a nickel allergy. She wears jeans, but puts one of those circle band-aids or a piece of medical tape inside over the button rivet.

The food allergies are a separate issue, which you'll have to sort out and avoid.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Good suggestions for preventing the rash.

But for those people dealing with eczema that they can't prevent, a recently available product, manuka honey (Medi-Honey) is incredibly healing. A little cousin of mine had terrible, scaly and discolored rashes on arms, shins and neck. Just a few days of applying the honey (gel form – neater to use than the pure honey) has her almost completely healed. I've used this myself to help heal irritated wounds, and last night a burned tongue, with very impressive results.

This honey, under various brand names, is available now in many health food stores, and through some dermatologists. Derma Sciences makes the Medi-Honey brand. Here's a link that describes the uses and benefits: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal...

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Usually stopping the metal from touching his skin is enough. I'd say you need to go to an allergist that is a specialist that understands metal allergies. This way you can find out what all to eliminate from your kitchen. I can't imagine pots and pans making him react.

I'd also investigate allergy shots with this specialist. They are having good results with many new shots. Even peanut allergies can be overcome nowadays. But only under strict supervision of a medical staff that can handle an emergency reaction. This is why sometimes they hospitalize kids doing allergy shots or desensitization to strong allergies.

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