Lifestyle And Home Remedies
A few simple treatments may help to improve your contact dermatitis from nickel allergy. If you find these treatments don't help or the allergy gets worse, contact your doctor.
Here were the immediate lifestyle changes I made after I was diagnosed as having a nickel and iron oxide allergy:
Stop touching my face with my hands. "Touching doesn't cause the following but most definitely worsens acne, contact dermatitis and herpes simplex," explained Dr. Shamban, board-certified dermatologist and Heal Your Skin author. "Bacteria, viruses and allergens transfer from fingertips onto the skin. Also, repeatedly rubbing the skin can do some real damage."
Washing hands frequently, in order to lessen nickel exposure. Or at the very least, you can shorten the exposure time.
Wearing gloves when I cannot avoid touching nickel (such as a workplace exposure).
Home Remedies That Can
Ease Nickel Allergy Rashes
- Use soothing topical treatments to ease itching:calamine lotion, lavender essential oil, roman chamomile essential oil.
- Moisturize regularly to build up a barrier for your skin.Your skin's natural barrier is disrupted when it reacts to nickel and other allergens. Using emollient creams, lotions, or essential oils could reduce your need for topical corticosteroids. Try petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or essential oils to build this barrier.
- Apply wet compresses to help dry blisters and relieve itching. Soak a clean cloth in Burow's solution, an over-the-counter medication containing aluminum acetate; diluted white vinegar (1 ounce of white vinegar to 16 ounces of water); or tap water. Place the compress over the rash for 15 to 45 minutes. You can repeat this process several times a day. Oatmeal compresses can help too.
Avoid certain over-the-counter ointments, such as antibiotic creams, which may contain ingredients — particularly neomycin — that can worsen an allergic reaction.
- Topical corticosteroids (hydrocortisone) can lessen itching and improve the rash. Try to apply the over-the-counter cream to the affected area before applying a wet compress. This could allow better penetration into the skin. Talk to your doctor about how long you can safely use the product because your skin can become addicted to it. Read this woman's story about it.
- Try over-the-counter oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which may help relieve itching for a short time, but tend not to be effective for this type of allergy.
Read more recommended remedies from Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nickel-allergy/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20027616
