Allergic skin reactions More and more nickel is processed in costume jewelery

Bundesamt: More nickel in connectors of fashion jewelry noted
Many people are allergic when they come into contact with objects that release nickel. Actually, certain limits apply, but these are often exceeded. Among other things, at connectors of fashion jewelry, as the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) now announced.
Many people are allergic to nickel
Many people are allergic to nickel. Upon contact with the metal, they develop a so-called contact eczema, which appears as an itchy rash. Although other substances can trigger such contact allergies, nickel is especially well known. Alloys from the metal are used in numerous everyday objects. Among other things in the production of buttons, which is why it often comes to a contact allergy through jeans button. Last year, doctors from the US reported that it can also lead to a rash through the iPad due to nickel traces. Actually, manufacturers have certain limits on the use of the metal. But apparently they are not always respected.

Limit values ​​are not adhered to
As the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) announced, exceeded 17.4 percent of 2014 tested plug earrings or piercing jewelry the allowable limit. In 2008, the share was 14 percent. In addition, the inspection authorities repeatedly had to complain about high levels of chromium VI. "It is time for both the manufacturers and the importers to ensure that the limit values ​​are met," said the president of the BVL. Helmut Tschiersky, in a press release. "High levels of nickel and chromium are health risks. The surveillance authorities of the countries will continue to increase their control over both product groups. "

Reactions do not follow immediately
The positive news: Only 4.9 percent of the tested jewelery parts and locks exceeded the limit - after previously ten percent. The crucial difference of a contact allergy to other allergies such as hay fever is that the reaction does not take place immediately. As Prof. Torsten Zuberbier, head of the European Foundation for Allergy Research (ECARF), said in a report by the dpa news agency, it often only becomes noticeable after 24 to 72 hours. "That's why the connection is more difficult to recognize." Although there are "almost all materials contact allergies - but with varying frequency," said the expert. Since nickel is the most unfavorable material in jewelry, an EU regulation also limits the nickel content. For imported goods, there may be a higher content of the metal in the piece of jewelry. According to Zuberbier, the safest materials for jewelry are fine gold, which is not offered as an alloy, and platinum. "Both make virtually no complaints."

Avoid contact with allergens
Certain symptoms can be identified as allergic reactions: "redness, scaling, itching", according to Zuberbier, are some of them. "That can be really wet." Although the reaction is usually limited to the area of ​​the skin that had contact with the material, there may also be so-called satellite herds. Basically, the higher the likelihood of a response, the closer and longer the contact was. If it comes to that, the piece of jewelry must be the first to get off the skin. In order to avoid complications and to enable a quick healing of the skin, affected people are advised to go to the dermatologist already at the first symptoms of an acute contact allergy. Cortisone-containing creams are usually prescribed there, which should normally only be used for a short time. In most people, the symptoms are due to the avoidance of allergens but also without cortisone. With the dermatologist it is also possible to make a so-called epicutaneous test, which shows, among other things, which metals are not tolerated. With this knowledge, you can exclude certain pieces in future jewelry purchases. (Ad)