Piercings can enhance personal style, but they may also carry hidden dangers. Nickel, a common metal used in jewellery, often triggers allergic contact dermatitis, a condition causing redness, swelling and itching.
Blake Asaad, founder of GOODSTONE Jewellery, reveals that nickel allergies affect up to 17% of women and 3% of men, often going undetected until symptoms appear. Ignoring these signs can lead to serious issues, including chronic dermatitis and bacterial infections requiring immediate medical attention.
Blake explains: “Contact dermatitis occurs when the immune system overreacts to substances it mistakenly deems harmful, such as nickel. The result is redness, swelling, itching and sometimes even blisters or cracked skin.”
READ MORE: Adding one food to your diet can help boost brain health and improve mental clarity
While these symptoms might seem mild initially, they can worsen to oozing or crusting skin and potentially cause long-term problems. “The tricky part,” Blake adds, “is that allergies can develop over time, even years after the initial exposure.”
“Your immune system’s job is to protect you from real threats,” says Blake, “but sometimes it gets overzealous and flags nickel as public enemy number one,” reports Surrey Live.
Once your immune system identifies nickel as a threat, it remembers, and in most cases, never forgets. This means that whenever you wear earrings or get a piercing with nickel-containing jewellery, your body reacts.
Dermatitis could cause an infection if left untreated
(Image: Getty Images)
For those experiencing symptoms, he advises seeking help early, as untreated reactions can result in permanent skin damage.
“Ignoring this type of allergy can lead to long-term damage to your skin and health, so once you spot it, do something about it,” advises Blake. Fortunately, managing a nickel allergy is achievable without sacrificing stylish jewellery.
The expert suggests the following to protect your skin:
Choose hypoallergenic jewellery
Opting for hypoallergenic materials such as titanium, surgical-grade stainless steel, pure sterling silver, or platinum can significantly reduce risks.
Yellow gold (14K or higher) is generally safe, but steer clear of white gold as it often contains nickel.
Avoid piercing guns
“Piercing guns can introduce bacteria and are often made with components that contain nickel,” says Blake. “Opt for a professional piercing studio that uses sterilised, single-use needles instead.”
Keep your piercings clean
A fresh piercing is an open wound that needs to be looked after to avoid infection.
“Proper piercing aftercare is a necessity,” says Blake. “Clean your new piercing with sterile saline twice daily, keep dirty hands away, and resist swapping jewellery too soon.”
According to the NHS, allergens found in fragrances, hair dye, nail varnish, rubber and even some plant life can also cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people.
If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer from persistent redness, swelling, or itching that doesn’t improve, a healthcare professional can offer treatments like topical corticosteroids to soothe the irritation.
“If you notice these symptoms, don’t wait it out,” Blake warns. “Ignoring them can lead to chronic skin issues or infections.”