Nickel Allergy News / metal allergy

We’re hoping Spring is just around the corner and we’re here to help you get ready! Winter clothes can cover up those unsightly and extremely uncomfortable nickel allergy rashes, but now is the time to prepare for warmer weather!

The cold weather months have had us hard at work as you’ll see with the introduction of a lot of new products and trendy new budget-friendly belt line.

Here’s a quick rundown on what you may have missed since the last time you visited!

New Nickel Free Dress Belts! Head uptown with Uptown Black, Uptown Brown, and Uptown Tan Dress Belts. Our long-time favorite belts the Black Dress Belt and Brown Dress Belt have gotten leather upgrades and now are offered in two trim-to-fit sizes, Regular which fits up to size 44” or Extra Large for big and tall sizes up to 50”.

Nickel Free Work Belts! We’ve changed out the leather on two of our Signature Series Work Belts, so take a look at the Titanium Work Belt II (Brown) and the Titanium Work Belt II (Black). Then we added a third choice, the Titanium Work Belt (Distressed Gray). Each of these belts has a pure titanium buckle and full grain leather straps that have been handcrafted in the USA. These belts are so strong and durable they have a lifetime guarantee.

Metal Free Carbon Fiber Belts! Yes, we have even more! These great-looking belts are so popular with frequent fliers and those with high security jobs, that we’re always adding more to this collection! Plus, anyone simply looking for trending style in a lightweight buckle will love these.

Blue Leather to match your denims? Yes! These are limited editions, so if this suits your warm weather attire, better buy these nickel free blue leather belts today! Bluerock Distressed Leather Belt and Blue Ridge SWP Leather Belt are perfect for spring and summer wear!

Nickel Zero®? This is our new economy belt line developed with the idea to have something for everyone. There are many people who wear the same belt every day, making a more expensive and durable belt the perfect choice. But there are just as many who like to change around based on their wardrobe and mood of the day! So, Nickel Zero is a lower cost option! Starting with three casual belts, the Pathfinder, the Outback, and the Peacekeeper and one dress belt, the Slick City Black Belt, Athena Allergy plans to add more of these belt throughout the year.

Here’s an important note: as temperatures rise, so do incidences of nickel allergy rash. The reason is simple, perspiration allows the nickel from your metal products to be more readily absorbed by your skin. Don’t cut corners, trust Athena Allergy - every product is guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel. If there is no nickel, there can be no nickel allergy rash!

Cure those winter blues by planning your springtime wardrobe, or maybe go ahead and buy for all those upcoming occasions when a nickel free gift would really be appreciated! Happy Nickel Free Shopping!

It seems the months of October and November have really stepped up in their activity levels. Soon, we’ll all be in full mode holiday frenzy.

Before that happens, take a deep breath and enjoy all the beauty and special family times that autumn has to offer.

Here at Athena Allergy, we want you to know that we consider you as part of our family! The Athena companies got their start here, at the mothership! Many of you have been with us through those years, while some of you may just be learning about us today. Whatever your situation, we are so glad you are here.

If you’re not already aware, we got our start about fifteen years ago when we came to the disheartening realization that it was nearly impossible to find truly nickel free goods. We wanted to offer a brand our customers could trust and a guarantee that we will always honor. Nickel Smart® products are now known around the world and are relied upon to never test positive for nickel. That’s our guarantee to you!

As a special pre-holiday gift, we are offering Free Shipping for our US customers!  (No discount codes necessary!)

We think you’ll find some of our latest belt and jewelry styles will be coveted gifts for years to come! Pictured here is our Cold Mountain Gray Distressed Leather Belt. The nickel free bottle-opener buckle is sure to bring a smile, while the belt itself has an amazing look and comfortable feel.

One of our belts that has been with us since near the beginning of our time has recently gotten a leather upgrade, our Black Wide Pin Belt II now features a full grain leather strap.

For a special holiday gift, you can’t go wrong with one of our metal free Carbon Fiber Belts. We particularly love the way the 100% carbon fiber buckle accents the rippled brown full grain leather strap in our Carbon Fiber Wide Pin Brown Belt! Versatile and trend-setting, this zero metal belt will make security clearance a breeze!

We hope this season finds you happy, healthy, and living the nickel free life!

Cheers!

Preparing for some exciting travel adventures? Be sure to add our carbon fiber belts and buckles to your packing list! Not only assured to provide an ultra-swank look, these belts will also have you passing through airport security metal detectors with ease.

The 100% carbon fiber buckle is completely metal free. That means this buckle has the even more important advantage of being completely safe for anyone with allergies to nickel and other metals. 

If your goal is to travel light, these carbon fiber belts are literally the answer! Each belt is so lightweight you'll barely realize you're wearing a belt, plus the trendy style can take you anywhere you want to go! Now available with black or brown handcrafted solid leather straps, this look is one you'll love long after you return home. 

We know you're going to love this great new look, the added advantage of being metal free makes our carbon fiber belt collection irresistible. 

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!

If your physician has advised that you have multiple metal allergies, titanium has likely been recommended to you as the solution! While nickel is the most common metal allergy, other metals can cause similar symptoms. Cobalt, chromium, copper, and gold may also be to blame for those itchy rashes.

Titanium is recommended by dermatologists and allergists around the world for their patients who suffer from multiple metal allergies. Titanium is a strong, durable and corrosion resistant metal; topical reactions to titanium are extremely rare.

The Athena Allergy Titanium Belt Collection is an assortment of professional, casual, and sturdy work belts. Most of these belts are also paired with high quality handcrafted leather straps, which earns them the Signature Series designation. The Signature Series Belts come with a lifetime guarantee to never break or fail in any manner. Every Athena Allergy Belt has earned the Certified Nickel Free™ designation, which means that every belt is guaranteed for life to never test positive for nickel.

Several of the Signature Series Belts are new arrivals to Athena Allergy. If it has been awhile since you visited, you might like to see the updated versions of our perennial favorite Wide Pin Belt, the Titanium Wide Pin Black Belt and the Titanium Wide Pin Brown Belt. The unique buckle is now made of solid, nickel free titanium while the straps are handcrafted from a solid piece of full grain leather. These belts are guaranteed for life, so buy the best and buy it once!

Our super sturdy Titanium Work Belts in Black or Brown are renowned for their durability. AJ’s Gun Belt also sports the Titanium Work Buckle and is perfect for supporting holsters or even multiple cell phones. If your job requires a more professional look, the Silver Square Titanium Belts will fulfill that need. Each of these belts has been handcrafted in the USA, so wear them with pride and no allergy rash!