What is Metal Allergy
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 433, Word Count: 593,
Knowing what metal allergy is helps to understand the ill-effects of different types of metals to the individuals who get in daily touch with them. Appropriate information on metal allergy symptoms can be accessed by various useful resources that provide valuable information on different types of metals and its adverse effects.
What are the Most Common Metals that Cause Metal Allergy?
Everyday contact with metals leads to skin allergy problems. There are varieties of metals that are known to cause dreadful effects in humans. Out of the rest, nickel, chromate and cobalt are the most common metals that cause skin allergy.
Usually, contact with nickel comes through costume jewelry, kitchen utensils, electronics and body piercings that may affect skin in the long run. Besides, metals from natural sources with a high metal mineral content also cause allergic symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of a Metal Allergy?
There are no prominent physical symptoms of metal allergy. Once the metal allergy symptoms are detected, these can be handled with the help of counter medications. The most commonly observed symptoms of metal allergy are as under:
- Itchy skin
- Development of blisters
- Swelling in the body parts that comes in direct contact with metals
- Brittle skin
- Skin may turn pitch-black
- Inflammation of skin and irritation
- Redness of skin
- Allergies to nickel-cadmium may cause eczema and peeling skin
- Inhale of nickel may develop asthma and respiratory allergy symptoms
How to Conduct Testing for Metal Allergies?
A variety of specialized medical practitioners offer assistance to conduct testing for metal allergy. In fact, there are many allergists that can be contacted to verify the patient’s sensitivity to various metals.
To conduct testing for metal allergies, an allergy patch testing is usually practiced. It is performed by placing certain substances in powdered form on the skin which is then covered for a certain period. After that, the covering is removed. The medical practitioner reviews the response of the patient's skin to the metal allergens. Based on the symptoms resulted from the patch test, a diagnosis is made.
What are the Treatments for Metal Allergies?
1. There is no cure for metal allergy symptoms. But early diagnosis proves helpful to determine the seriousness of metal allergy.
2. Once the allergy is diagnosed, it is advised to prevent further contact with the metal.
3. Individuals who come in direct contact with metals can wear gloves and a mask while working.
4. Many times, creams or ointments are commonly used for the treatment for metal allergy. These help to calm and sooth the infected area and helps fast healing process.
5. At times, oral antihistamines are applied for itching. Do not pop the blisters, as they contain curative cells and enzymes that work for the betterment of the infection.
6. If the skin becomes too sensitive, crusty and scaly, it is a must to consult a doctor for corrective treatment.
7. Try to avoid contact with the metal and ingestion of foodstuffs that contain traces of metals in its natural form.
About the Author
Allergist Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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