Condition guide

Nickel Allergy: The Most Common Metal Allergy, and How to Live With It

Nickel allergy causes itchy rashes where metal touches skin. Here's where nickel hides, how to reduce contact, and the products and habits that help.

What it is

Nickel allergy is the most common contact allergy worldwide. Once you are sensitised, skin that touches nickel develops an itchy, red, sometimes blistered rash, classically under jewellery, watch backs, jeans studs, belt buckles and bra fastenings.

Where nickel hides

How to reduce contact

What helps the skin

Treat the rash like contact dermatitis: gentle, fragrance-free moisturisers to repair the barrier, and avoid scratching. Persistent patches may need a doctor’s input.

When to see a doctor

If you are unsure nickel is the cause, or the rash is widespread or not settling, a dermatologist can confirm it with patch testing.

Tools that help

To check a product, INCIBeauty lets you look up a product and read plain-language notes on each ingredient, with a community that rates them, and SkinSAFE lets you filter a product catalogue to screen out the ingredients you are avoiding and other allergens. These rate a product on general criteria rather than against your own list.

Once you know what you are screening for, a personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save the ingredients you react to once and scan any product to flag only your triggers. It also keeps a Reaction Journal for flare-ups, a shared Care Circle so family or carers can scan for you, and a Trusted Products list for items you have cleared, and it is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

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A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.