Periumbilical Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Blue Jeans or Belt Buckles?

Abstract

Nickel is the most ubiquitous contact allergen among children and adolescents. Metal blue jeans buttons and belts have been noted to cause nickel dermatitis around the umbilicus. For these children, traditional teaching is strict avoidance of all pants with metal snaps/buttons, particularly blue jeans. In this study we tested 90 pairs of blue jeans and 47 belts for nickel using the dimethylglyoxime spot test. Only 10% of blue jeans tested positive, while 53% of belts tested positive. Furthermore, 10 pairs of nickel-negative blue jeans remained negative after 10 washings. Overall we found no resistance to testing in clothing stores. From these results, we recommend that patients with allergic contact dermatitis secondary to nickel need not strictly avoid blue jeans and metal belt buckles. Rather, families should be encouraged to use the dimethylglyoxime spot test to test these items for nickel prior to purchase.

Nickel release from earrings purchased in the United States: The San Francisco earring study

“…Recently, it was demonstrated that 9 (10%) of 90 blue jeans and 25 (53%) of 47 belts from 6 local stores in Chapel Hill, NC, were positive on DMG testing. 31 The results from the current study make one speculate that excessive nickel release may also be identified in jewelry other than earrings in the United States. Furthermore, the accumulation of patch test data from the NACDG within the last 30 years revealed that the frequency of nickel sensitization increased significantly (P\.0001) from 11% in 1970 to 1972 to 16.9% in 2000 to 2002.…”

Prevalence of nickel and cobalt allergy among female patients with dermatitis before and after Danish government regulation: A 23-year retrospective study

“…To illustrate the level of nickel exposure, 4 recent US surveys demonstrated excessive nickel release (as assessed by the nickel stick test) from a high proportion of earrings, clothing fasteners, buttons, and belt buckles. [35][36][37][38] Taken together, these results suggest that a regulatory intervention may be a useful tool when handling contact allergy epidemics.…”

Polyetheretherketone Overlay Prosthesis over High Noble Ball Attachments to Overcome Base Metal Sensitivity: A Clinical Report

“…Ni is one of the most potent allergens and an ubiquitous contact allergen among children and adolescents . The most frequent adverse reactions caused are hypersensitivity, subtoxic reactions, metal toxicity, and allergic contact dermatitis.…”