Look for jewelry made from such metals as nickel-free stainless steel, surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, 18-karat yellow gold, or nickel-free yellow gold and sterling silver. Surgical-grade stainless steel may contain some nickel, but it’s generally considered hypoallergenic for most people.

While these are 14K gold-plated, which contains a lower amount of gold and thus a higher amount of other metals, the brand notes that this initial pair is nickel-free. Your friends will be green with envy when you tell them these 18k gold-plated emerald-like studs were so affordable. Or you know, don’t tell them.

Subject: Clueless Dad: Are Earrings from Claire’s Safe? Anonymous wrote: All earrings in Claire’s that say sensitive solution are specially formulated so it won’t release any nickel into your body.

10 of the Best Earrings for Sensitive Ears

• Amazon Collection Diamond Stud Earrings Amazon.
• huashengmi 14k gold-plated inlaid cubic zirconia hypoallergenic earrings Amazon.
• GANADARA Cubic Zirconia Hoop Earrings Amazon.
• Aganippe 9 Pairs Hypoallergenic Thick Gold/Silver Open Hoop Earrings Amazon.

A nickel spot test can be purchased online. Simply put a drop of the test solution on a cotton swab and rub the metal. If the swab turns pink, nickel is being released. In someone with the allergy, the immune system will react to the presence of more than 5 parts per million (ppm) of nickel.

There is no “cure” for nickel allergy, but avoidance of contact with the inciting object(s) often results in clearing of the rash. Treatments for contact allergies include lotions and creams, oatmeal baths, and other medications called topical corticosteroids that decrease inflammation.

Once it has developed, a nickel allergy is unlikely to go away. The only way to treat a nickel allergy is to avoid all items and foods containing nickel.

Home remedies include the following:

1. Use soothing lotions, such as calamine lotion, which may ease itching.
2. Moisturize regularly. Your skin has a natural barrier that’s disrupted when it reacts to nickel and other allergens.
3. Apply wet compresses, which can help dry blisters and relieve itching.

Avoid all foods that are routinely high in nickel content such as cocoa, chocolate, soya beans, oatmeal, nuts, almonds and fresh and dried legumes. Avoid all drinks and vitamin supplements with nickel and canned food.

The skin allergic reaction to nickel looks like eczema. Signs and symptoms include an itchy rash with redness, swelling, scaling and possibly a crusty appearance. The rash generally appears on the area of the skin that comes into contact with the metal.

You (or your child) can continue to wear jeans, but you must purchase thick denim (or other) patches that can be ironed or sewn on over ALL metal snaps or rivets. Turn all jeans or pants inside out. Any metal that is seen must be covered with patches. Patches can be purchased at fabric stores, or at some craft stores.

To avoid exposure, only wear jewelry that is nickel-free, hypoallergenic, or made from metals such as surgical-grade stainless steel, 18-, 22-, or 24-karat yellow gold, pure sterling silver, or platinum. In addition, wear watchbands made of leather, cloth or plastic.

Not only are nickel allergies incredibly common, they can also appear out of nowhere. You can wear a necklace for years only to develop symptoms suddenly and without warning. Once a metal allergy appears, it is typically with you for life.

Coffee, which is very popular in South India, is found to contain nickel in the concentration of 43μg per 100 g of coffee beans (roasted, ground). Cocoa beans, from which cocoa and chocolate are made may contain up to 10mg/kg of nickel and are common constituents of fast-foods in India.

A reaction to a particular piece of jewelry may occur suddenly because nickel salts tend to come to the surface years later, or after protective coating has worn away. “You get more exposure to nickel the older the piece of jewelry is,” says Jeffrey Benabio, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.

The sensitivity of the self-test was 72% (95% confidence interval (CI) 57-84), the specificity 91% (95% CI 85-95), and the proportion of agreement 86% (95% CI 81-91). Thus, in the population studied, the validity of self-testing for nickel allergy was adequate.

The results indicated the iPhone contained a fair amount of base metals, including an estimated 33 grams (1.1 oz) of iron, 6 grams of copper, 2.7 grams of nickel, and 0.7 grams of tin.

How To Test for Nickel

1. Apply a few drops of Nickel Alert to a cotton swab.
2. Firmly rub the moistened swab on the metal item you are testing for several seconds (15-30 seconds)