People who are severely allergic to nickel, as from earrings or belt buckles, can actually develop a rash from eating foods high in nickel.
In particular, chronic hand dermatitis has been associated with eating foods high in nickel in patients with a known allergy. If you are allergic to nickel and have a chronic rash, especially of your hands, then consider a nickel-free diet. Try to avoid:
- Chocolate
- Potatoes
- Salmon
- Nuts and Legumes (beans, lentils)
- Any canned food or canned fruit
- Hot water from the tap
- Anything acidic (like tomatoes) cooked in a stainless steel pan
- Leafy green vegetables
Related posts:
- Nickel Named Allergen of the Year Forget the Oscars. The American Contact Dermatitis Society has just...
- Allergic to Your Cell Phone? I have heard of people addicted to their Blackberry® (not...
- Low Carb Diet Might Help Acne Just when you thought low-carb diets were dead. A study...
- Can You Be Allergic To Your Swimming Pool? Is is possible to be allergic to your pool? Continue...
Hi folks, i’m back again. I found a useful article by Theresa Halvorsen ‘How to balance your diet’.The recommended dose of FLAXSEED or LINSEED OIL is 1000mg 1-3 times daily.It DOES contain NICKEL however, the pro’s may out way the cons. We are not going to eliminate nickel completely from our diets or day to day general exposure and linseed does seem to fill in some of the gaps we will find. Linseed contains ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS including omega 3, Linseed aids digestion, acts as a buffer for excess stomach acid and may soothe mouth ulcers and ease constipation. I suffer with a sore mouth from cutlery and solid stools due to the diet so i’m guessing some of you guys maybe having similar side effects such as these.
Linseed contains LIGNANS a class of phytoestrogens which are a natural antioxident, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Linseed contains 100 times more lignans than whole grains (which I have been told to avoid anyway).
Linseed contains B VITAMINS, POTASSIUM, ZINC, IRON, VITAMIN E, CAROTENE, MAGNESIUM, SULFUR, PHOSPHORUS, MANGANESE, SILICON, COPPER, MOLYBENUM(?), CHROMIUM and COBALT, It also aids absorbtion of Calcium. It also contains LECITHEN, FIBRE and Protien, we may find our low nickel diets lacking in fibre.
The effects of FLAXSEED or LINSEED may take up to six weeks to see results positive or negative. I am allergic to cobalt as well as nickel but I am going to ask the dietician about taking it as a supplement and adding it to the food diary so i can note positive or negative results- it’s worth a shot.
BETTY
The ciggies are dangerous first and second hand; there are over 3800 dangerous chemicles in the cigs and the Nickel is in the smoke. I’ve halved my daily amount of rollies but I will struggle to stop altogether.
ANYONE
I was thinking about the veggies on the list and think the growth conditions are the factor. Nickel is a base element so it is in the soil, therefore it transfers to what is growing. If my line of thinking is correct, it is possible to buy soil testing kits- lets all get back to home grown in polly tunnels or greenhouses- then we control the soil, water, compost etc. Any gardeners out there think thats the reason for veggies on the high and low nickel lists….
Just wanted to say that I have been taking ‘Olive leaf extract’ for the last 2 weeks. I have had a nickel allergy for the last couple of years. In the last 6 months it has been the worst it ever was. The Olive leaf extract seems to have strengthened my skin and is no where near as dry, it has moisture now and is by far the best I have seen it in years
Hope they stay this way and cant believe how fast it worked. I would recommend that anyone who suffers from any form of skin condition try this product. http://www.olea.com.au/ I use the peppermint flavoured one. I have also been taking evening primrose, fish oil, vitamin c, multi vitamin, drinking aloe vera juice and green tea. I have found asparagus to be great for antioxidant.
I just found a great article that says that we are not actually allergic to nickel, we have nickel problems because of low iron in our blood. Sometime ferritin levels, (iron levels) can be masked by the presence of so much nickel . Nickel depletes us of B2 B12 magnesium copper. If you add these things you might get better. You need to be careful about too much iron, but you MUST take iron and take it with Vit. C. If you take it with calcium you won’t absorb any. Good luck
The Iron level in my blood is 14.9 out of 15.5 and still very much allergic to Nickel. If I take any extra Iron, my stool is dark (too much Iron), so that’s not the answer. I do know Vitamin C absorbs the Nickel as my skin has gotten better.
I’m brand new to the nickel allergy. Just diagnosed in the last week and trying to find a good place to start. (Also new to blogging and most things technical).
I was surprised to find that most of the foods on the “high nickel” content list are foods I like and vice-a-versa for those on the “low nickel” list. Yikes. Any suggestions about where to start?
Dear Kendal,
At the time I was diagnosed, I was a strict vegetarian. That was 4 years ago. The initial shock I experienced over having to stop all of my vegetarian protein sources and replace them with meat was overwhelming. I love all the high nickel foods and like some of the low nickel. So, here is what I suggest and what I did 4 years ago:
Do an elimination diet & cleanse. Slowly add back in one food at a time and see what you react to. It is time consuming and a real pain but it was worth it for me to be able to keep some high nickel foods in my diet that I found I didn’t react to, like wheat & grains.
Lastly, I have found that I cycle through periods of severe reactions and periods where I have little to no reactions. This delights me because I can occasionally return to a plant based diet for a few months before having to return to a meat based diet again.
Everyone has their own of coping. I hope this helps you some.
Pat
@Pat
Thanks for the input, Pat. It does help.
I’ve been looking at nickel-free diets and am finding that confusing. It seems to depend on who is publishing the list: some high nickel lists contain foods that are on another person/organization’s list of allowable foods? Has anyone found a reliable source of information? Also, I’m finding a lot of short lists, so if anyone has something exhaustive or at least extensive I’d appreciate the info. Thanks!
Hi Kendal,
I realize your post is several months old so you may have learned all of this by now, but I will tell you what I have learned about nickel in foods since being diagnosed with my very severe nickel allergy.
The reason the lists are so unreliable (high on one list and low on another) is that it depends entirely on the soil that the item was grown in. So testing the food itself will vary from one area to another. If food was tested in an area with lower nickel content in the soil, the food item will show a lower nickel content, while that same food will be very high in nickel from an area with high nickel content in the soil. The trick I have used is this: after eating a very “clean” diet, and getting my breakouts under control, I added in a particular food, noting the brand and where it was grown. If I don’t react, it gets added to my “safe” list. If I do, it gets added to the “unsafe” list, and after clearing up, I try a different brand grown in a different area of the country or world. It’s a slow process, but it is working for me.
Best of luck to you.
Hi Kendal.
Attached is a link to a website that does have a nice list of low, medium and high nickel content in foods.
I hope it helps!
http://www.melisa.org/nickel.php
Could I also pls get a copy of this nickel free diet.
Hello, I never reply to these blogs but i found it interesting that you mentioned olive leaf extract. I too have a nickel allergy and was told that asparagus should be avoided as well as salmon (omega3) Now the extract, you are taking it oral or as a oil to rub on?
I have been majorly suffering from my eczema.
Your reply would be greatly appreciated.
@Laura Thompson
Hi thanks for posting your information. I would like to know more if you might have more to share. In March I started with a rash on my lids and neck. the doc did not know what it was. In june I found out my iron was low so I started with iron vit. when rechecking a few weeks later my iron was normal. My rash never want away and now October the rash was bothering me more. Upper lip, lower lip, one side of my face, around both eyes, neck. The doctor did patch test and found out I have an allergy to Nickel. eye lash curler was the problem around my eyes, silver necklace and ear rings, ect. Now I am looking back on how bad I have felt in so long and beleive it could be my nickel food intake. I am tired alot, energy lost, intestinal issues are the worst, gas bloat, and cranky. I will try B 12, vit c and iron along with a nickel free diet. I will try to stay away from all the high nickel foods. If there is any other ideas that can help please contact me.
Hi thanks for your helpfull ideas. Last year I went through alot of stress and think this triggered my problem. I am a 40 years old 114 pound. Married with two children.
I do not have any metals in my mouth. I have noticed some of my hair products have nickel in them,even the ones in bottles. I am a full time hair stylest. I have changes all my products to bottles. I am going to check my cleaning products today.
I have changes my diet to gluten free, meat and cheese. I am scared to try veggies again? I have found alot of gluten free has potatoe flour, chick peas flour in them and dont think I can change this. I am feeling much better since my changes.
My family doctor does not think eating food with nickel in them could cause me any harm. Stange… A year ago before finding out about my nickel Alergy he said I had IBS and fitigue syd. I no longer have these problems. Amazing !!!
I another doctor is helping me with this and we are in the process of sending out my hair to be tested. Testing to see if I have a metal built up.
I was a bit confused yesterday morning why my neck was red again and my eyes lids were puffy.then I remembered I picked up all the can goods I can not loner use and set them aside for my brother to pick up. I am so sensitive.also to my cell phone and had to buy a case for us.
Do you or any one else throw more ides what is ok to eat? thanks a bunch for your support.
@Laura Thompson
Laura Thompson, can you tell me where you read that article, I would love to read it too. I know I have always had low iron levels, all my life, with no explanations..
@Kim
Hi Kim,
A year ago I found out that I am allergice to nickel, colbalt, zinc and gold! (I wear gold earrings 24/7 but they don’t bother me! my doctor was shocked) I have stayed away from nickel the best I can but, I am still breaking out. Nothing has seemed to work that I have gotten from my doctor. Do you think you could send me your diet so, I can give it a try? I am getting very depressed with this. I never have never been allergic to anything in my life, I am 54 years old, but ever since I had the patch test, (I went to the doctor with 2 spots on me), had they patch test and now I have at least 20 or more spots. I think the patch test made it worse. I would really appreciate it if you would send me the diet. Thank you so much! Take Care and God Bless….Pam
I have recently found out that I’m allergic to nickel.I get spots on my arms and on my knees also on the back of my calves.When I start itching those area’s it is worse!It seeme to be worse at night!I’m a vegatarian,so a lot of my food has nickel in it!You mention that you take olive leaf,do you take it oral and do you put it on your body?
I’ve always had a reaction to nickel in jewelry but have been struggling with skin rashes/itching for 4 years. I was recently told by a dermatologist (new one, yay, the old one couldn’t figure out my problem) that it was the nickel in the food I was eating. I think he was spot on – eating a low nickel diet has significantly helped my skin issues. I had a head to toe dry, leathery, itchy, itchy, itchy rash! I do struggle with the diet from time to time – it is quite restrictive and I love to cook and have always considered myself a “foodie”! Anyway, my question is: are there other health issues besides the ecsema (sp.?)involved with a sensitivity to the nickel in my system? I’m just wondering, because as I read from someone else on this site, I am willing to deal with the skin issues occasionally to be able to “splurge” from time to time with my diet! Also, my derm. prescribed a cream called CeraVe (25% medicine, 75% moisturizer) for my rash – very nice and very effective! I know some are worried about topical steroid cream use – any insight to this? My derm. has assured me this cream is safe for long term use. Thanks and good luck to everyone! I’ve decided I’m not going to let this get me down – my husband has been battling late stage colon cancer and we are currently having hospice care for him – there are worse things in life!
Oh, my derm. added clobetasol (I guess this is the med. part) to the CeraVe cream.
@Kim
Hi Kim, my daughter has had a sudden onset of all the skin symptoms relating to Nickel allergy.
PLEASE EMAIL THIS DIET YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ASAP
Reading into it, it seems she may have had this for a while – lethargy, insomnia, dry skin… maybe now her body has decided at (nearly) 16y.o. that it’s time to go crazy about it. The poor girl is very stressed out about it, and having suffered shingles a few years back, we don’t want her missing out on more school/social life again.
Has anyone noticed this seems to run in the family???
Thanks to everyone who has posted comments, this is a fantastic site for personal accounts into what works and what doesn’t. Good luck to all suffering – hope they sort out a good remedy soon for everyone.
Hi!
I’ve recently been diagnosed with a severe allergy as well as everyone else on here. I’ve had the same problem determining what has nickel and what doesn’t based on all of the conflicting lists that are all over the internet. I’ve noticed that many of you have asked Kim to send you her nickel free diet. Since Kim originally posted her comment in July 2008 and the most recent request for her to email it was Feb 2010 I was wondering if she is still keeping up with this message board and emailing the diet list when its requested. Are you (those still reading) having any luck in receiving a diet…whether from Kim or someone else? If so, could someone send it to me? Thanks so much! I have much more symptoms than just the skin issues, so I am desperate to begin the process of getting the nickel out of my body so that we can begin to tell what the nickel is causing and what symptoms must be caused from something else. I’ll appreciate any help anyone can give. Thanks!
I had a hair analysis done recently that showed an elevated level of nickel and cobalt. I had never heard of dietary nickel being a cause of eczema (and asthma, for some) until I googled it. The vitamins I started taking about eight years ago (Centrum) contain nickel and I was trying to eat a whole foods diet which contained many of the high nickel foods. I plan to see an allergist to see if I test sensitive to nickel but in the meanwhile, I’m switching to a lower nickel diet and using oral chelation to see if that helps. Here are some nickel synergists and nickel antagonists if anyone is interested.
http://www.acu-cell.com/nico2.html
I have a severe nickel allergy. Y3ears ago it used to be on my hands and especially around my cuicles. My hand bled and looked terrible. I went on a course of Cortezone injections, every six weeks. This helped a lot. Eventually i reduced it to two injections ayear. However it has now flared up again but on my legs. Def diet related according to blood tests. Got detailed diet from my dermatologist but like a few of you have mentioned, there is conflicting info on the net.
laurie trefethen: I just read your comments. I also get it on the back of my calves…insanely itchy..I am permanently bruised. I would imagine that being a vegetarian that you probably eat a lot of legumes, sprouts, beans (all kinds) etc. Unfortunately these are the worst for a nickel allergy. As are all the green leafy veg like lettuce etc. Do you eat dairy? (all dairy as long as not flavoured like some yogurt is good) Also no bran, wholemeal or any of that. But white flour ok in samll quantities. Rye flour supposed to be ok but no Rye Bran…not easy but it does seem to work! Good luck
Hello,
by any chance can someone email me this diet at daisydlt@yahoo.com! i am not allergic to nickel but my mother is and i would like to help her w/her severe itchiness! please email this to me. My mom is freaking out because she is a major choclate fan icluding recess peanut butter cup
thank you,
Daisy
im very sorry the email is daisydlt13@yahoo.com thank you and sorry for the confusion
I’ve been allergic to nickel for 5 years and I didn’t realize that alluminum and titanium is in sunscreen which I’m assuming why I’m broke out all over after just getting back from Dominican repupblic and wearing sunscreen 2 two 3 times a day all over. Anyway just wanted to let you no incase you don’t look at the ingredients
I too have a nickel allergy and gold and aluminum! Breads, colas, caffeine, nicotine and raw vegetables are biggies on the NO CAN HAVE LIST.
Also, sparingly use tuna or canned veggies. Breads: no whole wheat, no white, pumpernickel, rye, italian or french breads at all….fish is a problem, too. Iodine.
With a gold allergy reaction, it usually is not at the site (can be tho’) with the gold, I have scars here and there.
I am also allergic to titanium as well after having brain surgery with a long exposure, half of my head and face are still itching and swelling after 6 years…. Not all O R instruments are 100% stainless steel!! There is still a small percentage of nickel content.
Also a big problem is gold and nickel makeup and makeup lids. Ask Maybelline for info on make up.
Oops, almost forgot! Also, don’t forget acidic foods, tomato sauces and gravies!!!
@barb
Awesome. Thank you for sharing!
Being a vegetarian and health nut, I was shocked to find out that the healthy foods I was eating were actually making me sick! I’m wondering if anybody has any input about low nickel foods that are high in iron and/or fiber?
Here’s what I’ve been eating a lot of:
Fruit (apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, acai berry)
Probiotic yogurt
Egg whites
Cheese (swiss, goat, feta, mozzarella)
Veggies (bok choy, zucchini, eggplant, squash, peppers, radishes)
Quinoa
Unbleached enriched wheat bread
I’d like to eat more veggies, but I’m not sure what is safe to eat. Since lowering my nickel intake, I have experienced less fatigue and much less digestive issues. The low nickel diet is crazy strict, especially for vegetarians, I wish someone would compile a list of what you CAN eat instead of what you can’t.
I have been working with my mom for about 3 years now. Her Dr, has been a great help. Our list to eat is eggs,fish-no shellfish- meat,poultry butter,cheese,milk-no chocolate- yogurt{unflavored) aspargus,red beets,broccoli,brussel sprouts,white cabbage,cauliflower, chinese cabbage,corn,cucumber,dill,eggplant,garlic (in moderation) mushrooms, onions (in moderation) parsley,peppers-green,red,potatoes. Cornflakes,cornmeal,cornstarch,macaroni,popcorn,rice(polished white and in moderation)spaghetti bananas(in moderation) berries (all except rasberries) peaches,pears,raisins,rhubarb.
Do not eat anything from can. No stainless steel utensils. This has been sucessful for her but you will need to add them slowly if you have not eaten them recently. Only add one item at a time and 3 times a week. if you do not break out your ok. She has also on ocassion eaten spagetti sauce. They say some people will not break out if tomatoes have been cooked, again not can sauce jared is better, if these items are cooked in stainless steel however it will can release nickel. Be sure and do not eat any thing with sorbic or citric acid. Hope this helps. Remeber not every one reacts to the same foods. At least this list has more vegtables for you. Every one should be eating Quinoa. It’s great for you. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.
I suspect I have a nickel allergy. Symptoms: rashes, dishydrotic eczema on hands, eczema on eyelids, arms and around mouth. I just took my earrings out today. I have used cortizone in the past to control the rashes and they left, but never for good. I know steroids are not good for me long term so I’m trying to stay away from them altogether. I am going grocery shopping tomorrow, and what can I eat? I have no idea! How do you get adequate nutrients without eating leafy green veggies?
Someone send me the diet please.
I have had a rash all over-especially at the waist which I now know is from nickel in my persperation. I found a list that the fda analyzed the metal counts in foods. Since I am in the USA I think this is the most accurate. I am trying to avoid any food with more than .08 of nickel.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/TotalDietStudy/UCM184301.pdf
I went through this list and made my own list of foods from lowest nickel to highest.
Pam, Thanks for the FDA website. Which column should I be looking at though?
I’ve had dyshydrotic eczema for years, but I never put a name on it until about a week ago when I had the worst outbreak of my life. My air conditioner broke and I’ve been in 80 degree plus temps non stop (not good for this condition, just so you know!)
I figured out a while ago eggs made it flare up, but I didn’t realize until I looked at the list on the MELISA site that it’s the nickel IN the eggs giving me the problem!
I’m thrilled I finally know what this is, what is causing it, and how to attack it, but YIKES on going nickel free. I have ton of other food allergies, so what little I can actually eat is all a no-no!
I’m going to start an elimiation diet until this break out clears up, then add things back one by one to see what causes a flare and what doesn’t.
Thanks to PAM for that FDA list. Very helpful.
I just learned that to make hydrogenated oils they use nickel to process the oil. I had already realized that I react to hydrogenated oils and I am guessing that the nickel processing is the reason.
I know that the soil in which fruits and vegetables are grown affects the nickel content. Does anyone have any idea how to find out what areas in the United States might have low levels of nickel in the soil?
I also have had a nickel allergy since I was in my pre-teen years. I am now 46, and have tried to avoid items I know cause flare-ups. Earlier this year, I developed a rash that I thought was contact dermatitis from nickel products. The rash continually got worse; I have been to the emergency room numerous times between regular dermatology visits because the itch-pain cycles were driving me insane. Losing sleep, etc. I have been diagnosed with dyshydrotic eczema which effects only the hands and feet. The cycles start with deep seated blisters that form into large bulla. When they rupture, I have very deep seated serous fluid oozing swapped up with bleeding from the sores. My hands and feet get so swollen all activities are impossible and terribly painful. I am resigning myself to going on a nickel free diet which I hope will help. I find that cotton gloves with extreme moisterizer (I use Medipeds lotion, Cetaphil and Triderma). When I have to do work around the house or yard and take showers, I buffer my hands with the cotton gloves, and layer a set of nitrile gloves over them for 15-20 min. increments. I am allergic to laytex, and rubber, plastic gloves aggravate my hands intensely without the cotton. Luke warm to cool water baths have helped me immensely. I also limit my handwashing to twice a day and then just let the water run over them. No rubbing! Watch your feet when showering for the metal drain (I think this has made it effect the soles of my feet). Avoid heat, and cut out stress as possible. I use clobetsol as a topical steroid cream. It seems to help until the deep fissures develop, and then I have to stop using it. I have been through 5 major rounds of oral steroids intermingled with massive steroid injections. Is there any thing else I can do?? I work in a hospital in a nonclinical setting, so my last option is U.V. treatment. The longterm psoriasis (sp?) medicine is not an option, because my derm. informed me it shreds the immune system. Got enough problems now! Also, can you recommend a website online that covers household items and daily use items that are nickel free.
melissa i am a nurse and have just been diagnosised with pomthlux hand exzema dyshydrotic eczema its painfull stressful and unsightley i have been on so many web pages to find out more and as i read this page i agree there is a lot of conflicting advise so what does one do
i have been told that i will have to give up hands on nurseing as the open blisters on my hands make me at risk of infection stress is one of the main causes but then when it flares up it makes you more stredded no win ay im now only eating chicken sweet potatoses and fruit teas im so unhappy this
Pam, Thanks for that FDA website. Which column should I pay attention to–the Mean or the Median? Not sure what the Std Dev column shows.
Hello Jo Ann, I’ve seen your post about which column to be looking at. I had the same question. I googled mean vs. median and got these definitions:
Median: The middle value of a set of values.
Mean: The arithmetic average, computed by adding up a collection
of numbers and dividing by their count. Hope that helps.
My situation is different. My partner, who is 35 has just had her third knee replacement, because the surgeon prior to the current one put in a partial and a total knee before that contained Nickel. After the last surgery three weeks ago, she was still breaking out. Since then we have cut out canned food, stopped cooking in our pots, replaced her deoderant. She already has been using Cereve soap, Vanicream lotion, and an amazing steroid cream, which also happens to immediately relieve my painful feet from Rheumatoid Arthritis. We are hoping to get her completely off steroids soon, as her bones are already soft from long term high dose prednisone use. This fda list is by far the most comprehensive list I’ve seen as far as food goes. Does anyone know of something similar for other products, such as toothpaste, soaps, household products, herbal cigarettes?
My dermatologist diagnosed that I have nummular dyshidrotic dermatitis. She advised me to apply betasalic ointment at least twice a day. The blisters get dry but it just keeps getting back. I guess it’s also hereditary because my grandpa has atopic dermatitis. It’s really hard to avoid these foods. I started to make a journal of the food that i have eaten to determine what can aggravate the allergy. Now im trying to avoid food containg nickel like eggs and chocolates. I also try to avoid dairy products cause I have read an article that people with this kind of allergy should avoid that. I have also tried Dr. Kauffman Sulfur soap, at first it was ok but eventually it made it even worse.
Thanks Kay. I just looked at the median because it was listed last.
I found a really helpful list in the book “Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life” by Cherie Calbom where they listed the nickel and standardized all the portion sizes: Micrograms (Mcg) Nickel per 100 grams edible portion (100 grams = 3 1/2 ounces)
700 Soybeans, dry; 500 beans, dry; 410 Soy flour; 310 Lentils; 250 Split Peas; 175 Green Beans; 150 Oats; 132 Walnuts; 122 Hazelnuts; 100 Buckwheat; 90 Barley; 90 Corn; 90 Parsley;
36 Whole wheat; 35 Spinach; 30 Fish; 27 Cucumber; 25 Carrots; 25 Rye Bread; 24 Eggs; 22 Cabbage; 20 Onions; 20 Tomatoes; 16 Apricots; 16 Beef; 16 Oranges; 16 Potatoes; 15 Cheese; 15 Watermelon; 14 Lettuce; 13 Apples; 12 Whole Wheat Bread; 12 Beets; 12 Pears; 8 Grapes; 6 Lamb; 6 Pine Nuts; 6 Radishes; 3 Milk
For anyone new-Chocolate is also extremely high in nickel. (Sorry)
If you juice from the book, how or which recipes have you used and do you set limit of
25 to 35 daily. What is low? This is so unusual my Dr. Is studying after wor.
Question,any hairstylist with the problem? What products do you use in the salon.
If I avoid nuts, beans, all soy, chocolate and all hydrogenated oils I don’t get a rash.
I have fibromyalgia and asthma and I am wondering these are a reaction to the nickel in foods at lower levels. I am also allergic to milk, so I am having a hard time finding healthy foods to eat. I thought I might try juicing vegetables to detoxify and see if it would help the allergies. I haven’t been consistant though, so I have no results yet.
For all of you that need to search for products that contain an allergen, please visit this website:
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov – it is The Household Products Database of the National Library of Medicine which is an amazing site!
I give this out to all of my allergic contact dermatitis patients with their truetest results.
Dr. Goodman
http://www.goodmandermatology.com/
My husband is severly allergic to nickel and has severe eczema on his legs, feet and stomach. However, we eat mostly vegetarian. My question relates to the fact that you say to avoid leafy green vegetables and beans, legumes. These are healthy foods that your body needs. What do you suggest that he eat instead? It seems that I’d rather have a rash than heart disease or colon cancer….
I think that if I am getting a rash from these foods then, for me, they are not healthy foods. My body does not react to them in a healthy way. I don’t think they would help prevent disease if I am reacting to them in an inflammatory way. I got my rash because I was losing weight by eating very healthy foods and it took 6 months to discover it was my ‘healthy diet’ that was causing the rash. No Fair. So now I am focusing on lean proteins and the lower nickel vegetables. It is very frustrating.
I would love to find out what farming areas have naturally lower levels of nickel in the soil. If the soil is lower in nickel, the foods would be too. I don’t know how to discover this though.
Hello – Please bear with me in this story. I am a desperate mom with a daughter whose life has been hijacked by disease.
My daughter has been very sick for two years – she missed her freshman year of high school and is now missing her sophomore year. We have known she has had an extremely severe nickel allergy since 5th grade. The legs on her chairs and desks at school have to be coated with clear paint or she can’t sit in them. At one time she had a rash over 50% of her body. I’ve had to throw away bed sheets from all the bleeding
In 8th grade she developed a rare disease called Eosinophilic Duodenitis, a disorder where white blood cells in your own immune system (eosinophils) attack the small intestine. She has since developed gastroparesis (very delayed stomach emptying), which has been horrible. Neither disease has a cure, and no doctor has been able to propose a cause. She suffers with stomach pain and nausea 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in addition to migraine, poor sleep, poor concentration, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. For the last month she has complained of a new, severe pain in her stomach. Last week they performed an endoscopy and found significant inflammation in her stomach that has never been found in her before. We are waiting for biopsy results.
The role of eosinophils is to defend the body from allergens and parasites. She has been prick tested for allergies for 40 different foods and comes up negative for all of them. (She has also been tested for parasites, celiac, h. Pylori, and diabetes.) I have been told that it is unlikely that her GI problem is an allergy because the stomach breaks down allergens before they reach the small intestine. However, I have proposed to several specialists at children’s hospitals that maybe the eosinophils are attacking because of nickel in her food and have pointed out that nickel would not be broken down by stomach acid – it may even be separated from food and left in a more pure state. The doctors have all treated me like I’m crazy. They told me they scoured the internet and they can’t find any evidence that nickel containing foods can cause a reaction in the body. Now I am looking at your website, and I have many questions.
Have any you ever heard of someone with a nickel allergy developing a gastrointestinal (esophagus, stomach, small or large intestine) disorder from nickel? What doctors do you see- and where- who advise a nickel free diet for rashes? I live in the Philadelphia area, but I would go anywhere. She had been a vegetarian for two years and developed this GI disease about 4 months after becoming a vegetarian – did any of you notice an increase in your symptoms after switching to a vegetarian diet?
My daughter has taken many, many medications and none have helped. She has suffered countless side effects, including a 10 pound weight loss in two weeks from vomiting due to 60 mg of prednisone a day. We are broken hearted watching her spend her high school years in a corner of the sofa. She is a very strong person, but any child can only take so much. She is not getting any education at all because she is too nauseous to read and too sick to think. Please help!
Dear Desperate Mom,
Please email me at nita.alaska08@gmail.com
You may be closer to the truth than you think. I haven’t had the gastrointestinal problems, but I can tell you without a doubt that foods containing nickel can and do affect your body internally. I know this from experience. My asthma has improved, my skin has improved, and I am now in hopes that it will also prove to be the answer to a fungal infection I have been fighting. we are hopeful that now that I have gotten rid of it, I might be able to keep it gone by sticking to a rigid low nickel diet. So please email me, as I would love to discuss all of this with you if you would like.
wicked recliner couch is the top among the top when it comes to accumulation choosing domicile furnishings
WHere can I get a copy of the nickel free diet? I would like to know what I CAN eat!
Hi, After reading lots of the blogs and info on other website again I have been back to the skin clinic asked if what I eat affects my exczema. I have been informed as I have a contact allergy to Nickel and Cobalt what I eat does NOT effect my exczema!!!! And I should not believe what I read on the internet, however when I mentioned nickel was in cigarette smoke that was a something they would look into!!!! Fed up with no information, the wrong information and not knowing what to do for the best. A confused Veggie !!!!!
I guess I was very lucky as it was my allergist who informed me that the nickel in foods bothers 5-10% of the people who have contact allergy with nickel. Dr. Cocke in Fullerton, CA.
I have hand eczema for the fist time starting five months ago. I saw three different dermatologists and of course each one told me it is something I’m touching and gave me a different cortizone cream. The last one patch test me with no positive reactions found. I don’t believe it is something I’m touching because i started wearing cotton gloves for months now and it is still here. What i believe is that it is a immune system problem. Something is suppressing the immune system and this is a side effect. I believe people with allergies to gluten, dairy, nickel, etc or carry a lot of stress have suppress immune systems. I have heard doctors say that they don’t what to give cortizone shots because there is a chance that the eczeme could come back worse. Well cortizone suppress the immune system also.
I am a 41 year old male in good shape and have made it a point to eat healthy. I am very proactive in finding an answer. I’m getting test for gluten, my PH balance in my blood, iron, and a couple of other things. I have not found the cause yet but what has help me suppress the symptoms on my hands are as follows. I wear the cotton gloves a lot, not because i worried about what I’m touching. It is to keep from losing moisture to the items i touch. I have been soaking my hand in Cutar emulsion once a day at night. Two cap full into about two gallon of warm water for at least 20 minutes up to 40 minutes. This helps reduce swelling and redness and helps smooth the skin. This helped me a lot. At night before i go to bed i use a pea size amount of halobestol crortizone cream mixed into about 5 peas sizes of Bag Balm. I mix it well and let soak in as i sleep with my cotton gloves on. I put the Bag Bond on after I shower in the morning and let it soak in with my gloves on, on my way to work. I use loose plastic glove in the shower so i don’t not touch any soap or shampoo products. I not scared of getting my hand wet, but my hand react negatively to soaps and dawn dishing washing soap is the worst. I have been taking 2 table spoons of apple cider vinegar to help balance the PH levels in my body. If you have a acidic body it suppresses the immune system. I also take 2 table spoons of flax seed oil which have omega 3 good for the skin and joints. The flax seed oil is another way i am trying to fight it from the inside out.
My hands currently do not get the fissures or cracking, the color is normal, my skin is soft, but my skin still flakes on the surface in the original spots and new ones from time to time. I was patched test for nickel and it was negative. So I am still looking for the cause.
If you have a opinion or a thought, please don’t hesitate to give your input.
All The Best Mike
I come from a family of dermatologists& I’ve also worked in the field. I’ve known that I’ve always had an allergy to nickel just from certain jewelry& certain buttons on my clothing that cause a small rash on my stomach, but I have been suffering from chronic rashes on my neck, arms legs& face for a few years now& no matter what I’ve tried w/ regards to steroid creams (I got to the point where I didnt want to use them as much for fear of thinning my skin) and went through the patch testing routines& a number of things popped up on my patch test that I was astonished to find that I was allergic to, but nickel was the main culprit& I’ve realizsd that so many of the foods that I consume contain nickel& I had no idea! Allergies like this can drive you crazy with all the itching and discomfort & now knowing that it’s more than just avoiding certain jewelry, I’ve found out that there may be relief by following a nickel free diet. The fickle nickel of all things has really been a thorn in my side & I hope that things get better now that I know it’s not just having contact w/ nickel& that it’s also the consumption of it.
I hesistated writing this because I don’t want to give others the impression that this is an easy fix, but I decided that was silly. You can each see if it helps you. I have been doing accupuncture for awhile for my fibromyalgia. The last few times I have asked them to work on allergies too. The very last time I went they put “seeds” (little black seeds taped to the inside of your earlobe) to treat me for allergies. One of the seeds felt so hot it was very uncomfortable for about 5 days. I almost took it off, but then I thought maybe it is doing something and left it on. During Christmas, I cheated and ate some chocolate. Usually within about an hour or two, I would have a little itchy rash, but I didn’t this time. I have tried nuts and beans a little at a time too and still no rash! I am still avoiding high nickel foods for the most part, but the accupuncture seems to have helped.