According to a recent health brief from Baylor Medical Center in Texas, unexplained skin irritations occur in millions of Americans, and for many, the culprit is an allergy to nickel.

Lisa Garner, M.D., a dermatologist on the medical staff, said that only real treatment is to avoid contact with items that contain nickel. The problem is that it can be found in so many metals. Fortunately, nickel test kits are now available for purchase online
 that can detect the substance in anything from jewelry to belt buckles.

Usually, yellow gold won’t cause a problem, but be aware that white gold alloys contain nickel and other metals. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver (as often marked by the 925 stamp) and for the most part the remaining 7.5 percent comes from copper. Other metals that are considered safe for people with nickel allergies are: copper, platinum, and titanium. Be careful with costume jewelry, vintage jewelry, and some surgical or stainless steel.

Image: reportergimmi

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