Nickel Allergy News / Nickel Solution

My battles with nickel allergy rashes started in my early teens, with my first ear piercing. Almost immediately, I noticed itching and burning, but I discounted those symptoms until small blisters formed.  After removing the earrings and allowing my ears to heal, I avoided piercing again for quite a few years. However, in the interim I became sensitive to the metal in my watch and sunglasses. Once again, intense itching and a red rash were the symptoms. Nickel allergy was becoming a little better understood at this point in time, so I educated myself and tried to avoid any jewelry with nickel, opting for leather watch bands with 14K gold cases and clasps (not easy on a young professionals budget!) and plastic sunglasses. It was much later than I discovered a much simpler solution – Nickel Solution!

Nickel Solution is a two-part kit that allows the user to first test metals to see if there is nickel in the metal and then to brush on a protective barrier to protect the skin from that nickel. Nickel Alert is the testing part; it is a dmg spot test for nickel. It is formulated by Athena Allergy, Inc. to be a highly accurate and uncomplicated at-home test.

While it is so helpful to be able to determine if an item has nickel before I wear it, my favorite of the two-part kit is probably Nickel Guard! I use this lacquer a lot! I love fun costume jewelry and oftentimes it does contain nickel. Brushing Nickel Guard on the wires, posts, or backs of earrings solves that problem easily!  I use a bit of wax paper underneath the jewelry as it dries, just in case I get a little overzealous in my application. For me, Nickel Guard provides a lengthy protection period. It likely depends on the use of the jewelry item and possibly on the severity of the nickel allergy.

Luckily, Athena Allergy is also making my love for bright and fun jewelry a no-brainer. They are now offering gorgeous dichroic glass nickel free earrings that are amazing to wear. The sparkle and glitter of this jewelry is astounding! Even better, I don’t have to test this jewelry because Athena Allergy has already done it for me! No more painting lacquer either, these pieces are guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel, so no more worries and definitely no more rash!

Trust me, you are going to be so glad you heeded this advice! Buy Nickel Solution (and maybe a great new pair of earrings) today!

Students preparing for dorm life are ready to take steps toward managing their own health care needs, including avoidance of nickel, if they are allergic.  

The Nickel Allergy Experts at Athena Allergy want to remind nickel allergic students who are living away from home that it is important to: 

• Advise Student Health professionals of any allergy, including your allergy to nickel, as this information can be helpful when diagnosing and treating several conditions. 

• Arm yourself with the building blocks to prevent nickel allergy symptoms from ever appearing –Nickel Alert™ to detect nickel in metal and Nickel Guard™ to provide a barrier between the nickel and skin. If this is the first time you’ve been away from home, you may not be aware of the steps your parents have taken to keep you away from the nickel found in common metallic items.  Testing those items with which you frequently come into contact is important.  Find out which items contain metal, so you can be proactive in preventing any reaction.  

• Once nickel is detected, determine if there are substitute products that can be easily used, or if there is a way to prevent your skin from regularly contacting that metal. Nickel Guard is a way to protect your skin from the nickel in some metallic items.  The lacquer forms a micro-bond with metal which effectively shields the skin from any contact.  Furthermore, Nickel Guard was carefully formulated without the use of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate which can create secondary dermatitis problems for those with the sensitive skin associated with nickel allergy. 

• Buy only products that are guaranteed to be nickel free, to eliminate any concern about nickel allergy rash interfering with your studies and your exciting new social life! The belts at Athena Allergy have proven popular with college students as many of the nickel free belts are handcrafted in the USA and have unique and trendy styles.  New nickel free earring designs are regularly introduced, and the current selection should have colors and styles to fit any occasion. 

• Refer to the helpful Nickel Allergy Information Pages at Athena Allergy, Inc., if you have questions about your condition. See the Dropdown Boxes for subjects under Nickel Allergy and Nickel Test on the home page at Athena Allergy, Inc. 

• Be proud of yourself for taking these steps toward self-sufficiency! Get involved, study hard, and have fun!