Nickel Allergy News / barrier protection from nickel

During the month of February, most people are thinking of love and friendship. We think this might be a good time to tell you why we do what we do! Hint: it has to do with the fact that we truly care about our customers!

When we started this business over a decade ago, we did so based on knowledge we had gained in the dermatology and allergy fields. It had become apparent to us that nickel allergy was a significant and ever-growing affliction that wasn’t being addressed by manufacturers.

Step one of our journey in educating the public about nickel allergy was to develop Nickel Alert™, a test for nickel that can be used on any metallic item. The first of its kind, this dmg spot test was formulated for at-home use, and was pre-mixed and pre-measured to ensure accuracy and ease of use. So sensitive that it will detect minute amounts of nickel, Nickel Alert has become the cornerstone of our business. We tout this product as the way to detect nickel in metal, so that your skin doesn’t have to!

Its companion product, Nickel Guard™ is a clinically proven clear coating that forms an invisible micro-bond with metals to prevent exposure to nickel, thus prohibiting any nickel allergy symptoms.

Once we had these building blocks established, allowing those with nickel allergy to detect nickel in any metal and then to protect their skin from that nickel, we wanted to pursue other ways to help our customers assure a nickel free life.

Adding nickel free belts, nickel free belt buckles, and hypoallergenic jewelry was an obvious step as these items are among those most often targeted as the cause of nickel allergy rash.  Unfortunately in the United States there are no FDA regulations on labeling products as “nickel free” or “hypoallergenic” and there are those who would take advantage. We decided early on that our products would be carefully sourced, designed, and manufactured so they would contain no nickel. Furthermore, we test for nickel both pre- and post-production – all steps that are necessary before a product earns the designation and guarantee of being Certified Nickel Free™. This guarantee means that our products come with the lifetime guarantee to never test positive for nickel, so these products can be trusted.

As our company has grown, we have been rewarded by hearing from many of you who have gained information from our website about your nickel allergy and have learned that the use of our products will lead to a comfortable life, free of nickel allergy symptoms. Our promise to you is that we will continue to source top quality nickel free products for you, because we truly do care about our customers.

Ready to do a little holiday indulging? Concerned that it may affect more than your waistline? Here's a bit of good news for nickel allergy sufferers!

But first things first: While it may not fit into your schedule to visit your dermatologist or allergist before the holiday meal this year, be sure to make it your number one New Year's Resolution. Only these professionals can provide an accurate diagnosis and medical advice regarding your nickel allergy and whether a low nickel diet will be a benefit.

Our bit of good news is that one day of holiday feasting should not create a problem for most people with nickel allergy! Continued consumption of high nickel foods does seem to have an affect on a minority of the nickel allergic population. Studies are indicating a relationship between the ingestion of foods high in nickel and conditions such as hives and eczema in a small number of people tested.

If your allergist has recommended a Low Nickel Diet, you probably already know that many foods have the green light.  Holiday staples such as turkey and cranberries are not considered problematic sources of nickel in the diet - so load up your plate!

There may be items on that holiday table that you should avoid if a strict diet has been recommended. Cocoa, chocolate, shellfish, fruits, whole grains, beer, red wine, onions, raw carrots, and most canned foods may contain significant amounts of nickel. However, nickel content often depends upon factors such as the soil where the crop was grown as well as how it was processed and then stored. High nickel in the soil, along with nickel-laden processing equipment and storage containers will lead to higher nickel in the product, making it difficult to accurately identify high nickel foods.

A bit more good news: While the avoidance of tea and coffee on a low nickel diet is suggested, other studies have shown that one or two cups of these beverages on a daily basis should pose little concern. In addition, some studies indicate a diet high in vitamin C and iron can counteract the absorption of ingested nickel.

Individuals who react to nickel ingested through diet have a systemic nickel allergic reaction; those who react only at the point of contact on the skin have allergic contact dermatitis to nickel. The Nickel Allergy Experts at Athena Allergy are ready to help those ACD patients avoid nickel to ward off worsening symptoms.

If your symptoms are found only at the site of the skin's contact with nickel, you should focus on ways to prevent that contact and the resulting rash. Over twelve years ago, Athena Allergy introduced the first pre-mixed and pre-measured dmg spot test for nickel, making it consumer-friendly and easy to use.  Nickel Alert™ has since been used extensively for rapid and accurate testing for nickel in metals. Nickel Alert is so extremely sensitive it will detect nickel in minute amounts of one part per ten thousand. Once nickel is detected, the skin must avoid that nickel in order to evade nickel allergy symptoms.  Nickel Guard™ is clinically proven to provide a micro-bond with metal to assure that nickel cannot contact the skin.  

Another avenue for avoiding nickel is to replace products that contain nickel with those that are guaranteed nickel free.  Athena Allergy offers an wide array of handcrafted in the USA nickel free belts for men, women, and children. We also are proud to provide Made in the USA Nickel Free Earrings in beautiful designs and a variety of color options. We take our customer's nickel allergy concerns to heart and strive to offer the best products, top-notch customer service, informative articles, and  guarantees so that visitors to our site find the answers they need to live a nickel free life!

 

 

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!