Resources

Here are some other useful links about nickel food allergies and topical nickel allergies. More information about nickel allergies, systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) or nickel food allergies have been published in the last several years.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Total Diet Study (TDS) Results FY2018-FY2020, last updated July 15, 2022.

Relationship between nickel allergy and diet

Low Nickel Diet in Dermatology

Systemic contact dermatitis

Dietary Nickel as a Cause of Systemic Contact Dermatitis

American Academy of Dermatology  & AAD Association Position Statement on Nickel Sensitivity

What’s Causing that Rash?

Good and bad food for a nickel allergy

Benefit of iron therapy in the management of chronic urticaria due to nickel sensitivity

Low-nickel diet scoring system for systemic nickel allergy

Nickel sensitization and dietary nickel are substantial cause of symptoms provocation in patients with chronic allergic-like dermatitis syndromes

Heavy Metal Hazard – The Health Risks of Hidden Heavy Metals in Face Makeup

Nickel Contact Dermatitis from Hypodermic Needles

USGS GeoChemical & Mineralogical Map for Soils of the Conterminous United States (Nickel shown on figures 77-79 / pages 161-166).

Patch Test as a Diagnostic Tool in Hand Eczema

Contact Dermatitis Due to Nickel Allergy in Patients Suffering from Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity

Heavy metal analysis in commercial Spirulina products for human consumption

Nickel Allergy Is Found in a Majority of Women with Chronic Fatigue Syndromeand Muscle Pain–And May Be Triggered by Cigarette Smoke and Dietary Nickel Intake

Stainless Steel Leaches Nickel and Chromium into Foods During Cooking

Nickel sensitization and dietary nickel are a substantial cause of symptoms provocation in patients with chronic allergic-like dermatitis syndromes

Other Related Links & Useful Information

The Rebelytics low nickel diet scoring sheet and companion mobile application has data and research from various countries throughout the world.

Nonita Nickel Free Jewelry / My Nonita Nickel Free Jewelry Review with a 10% discount code

Dermatitis Academy / Dermatitis Academy’s Systemic Dermatitis and Nickel Rich Foods resource sheet

Try Skintifique and receive $15.00 off when you shop using referral code 22140304 (referral affiliate link). Learn more by reading my nickel free product post review of Skintifique.

Your Guide to Alcohol Allergies and Intolerances

Library photo by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash.

15 comments
  1. thank you so much for your blog. It’s really helping me. Would you please advise on what type of doctor and what type of test i would get in order to be officially diagnosed with what I belive to be nickel allergy? I had a patch test a few years ago, and I cannot recalll if it tested for Nickel, but it didn’t show up with any allergies at that time. Thank you!
    Wendy

  2. Wendy,
    I am glad you found my blog too! I’m excited it’s helping you. I went to a dermatologist and had a skin patch test conducted on my back. They placed a lot of different potential allergens all over my back and then checked them two days and then four days after (I couldn’t shower in between). These tests are pretty expensive, so I’d call some dermatologist and see if they conduct skin patch tests for allergies and what your insurance covers.
    You might be able to contact your previous doctor to find out if they did test you for nickel previously.
    After the test showed I was allergic to nickel, my dermatologist them informed me about the low-nickel diet. I tried it and within 3 weeks most of my eczema had resolved.
    If you’re going to get tested again, you might want to ask if the dermatologist is aware of nickel food allergies or the low nickel diet prior. There are many people I chat with who haven’t received great care/info from either dermatologists or allergists.
    I wish you the best and hope you stay in touch.
    Christy

    1. that is so true….the dermatologist who diagnosed me via skin patch test was very misinformed about the low nickel diet. He told me to go on it and when I said I am vegan and I believe all my protein sources are high nickel, what am I supposed to eat? He told me to eat SOY!!! Of course I went home and got online and found every single list of high nickel foods always contained soy as a worst offender. I now have made an appointment at Bastyr University which is a very reputable medical school for naturopaths and other alternative medical modalities. I am hoping that since they are very well versed in nutrition and vegan diets that they can give me some hope of remaining a gluten free vegan. After a month on this diet I am so weak and only getting less than 10 g of protein a day eating low nickel vegan foods. I am going thru all your blogs still . Very helpful! ‘Do you know of anyone who is a vegan on a low nickel diet?

      1. Hi Nicola,
        Good luck with the appointment with the naturopaths and nutritionists. I’ve met with both who also in my experience didn’t know anything about the low-nickel diet. The diet is controversial in some circles. I’d love to hear how your appointments go.
        I don’t know anyone who is a vegan who is also on the low-nickel diet. As you know, so many high protein foods that aren’t meat are also high in nickel, like soy, nuts, seeds, pea-protein. If the diet isn’t really helping your symptoms, I don’t know if it’s the best treatment plan for you.
        Stay in touch,
        Christy

      2. Hi Nicola,
        I know this comment was was made almost two years ago, but I’m hoping you might see this! I was just recently diagnosed with a nickel allergy as well and was told to try a low nickel diet, but I am also vegan and am finding this incredibly challenging. The doctors I’ve met with have not been supportive or willing to work with me at all and I’m hoping that maybe you got some helpful answers from your doctors visits?
        Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much! 🙂
        Jessica

        1. Hi Jessica, I’m in the same boat but a relatively new vegan. Just wondering if you’ve discovered anything helpful since you posted back in April. I’m borderline anemic and so am depending on high nickel foods and my eczema is getting worse every day. 🙁

  3. I am happy to find your site. I have struggled with gastrointestinal issues my whole life, but found out about my nickel allergy about 9 years ago. I have since tried to maintain as much of a low nickel diet as possible. I have several other food allergies that make it very difficult to find foods to eat!
    I have felt alone in dealing with my allergy for so long. My husband is very supportive but outside of him and a couple close friends, most people do not believe my allergy exists. I have had several doctors tell me that it isnt possible. And a lot of extended family members treat me like I am just a hypochondriac.

    1. Hi Honesty,
      Thanks for your comments and kind words about my website. That’s terrible some of your family and physicians don’t take you seriously or minimize your eczema and allergies. It sounds like they must not understand or want to understand the true struggle experiencing this allergy is. It’s wonderful your husband supports you. I too appreciate my supportive spouse.
      Being on a restrictive diet is very challenging. I don’t know what I would do, if I had to restrict my diet more than it already is.
      Warm regards,
      Christy

  4. What a great resource and site… I am in Functional Medicine and I just added the resource for my clients…

  5. This is a fantastic blog and hub of information Christy. Any insight, tip, or suggestions on how to best utilize the FDA Total Diet Study? I appreciate it!

    1. Hi Erin,
      Thanks for your comment and appreciation for my blog! The FDA total diet study is overwhelming! There are about 10 pages identifying foods higher and lower in nickel. It might be best to print out those pages. You could use a highlighter to point out which foods that you enjoy eating that you might be having trouble identifying whether or not they cause you to react. Many of the foods on that list are processed foods. For instance, I wouldn’t recommend eating canned sweet potatoes. However I am able to eat fresh sweet potatoes that I cook. You could go through the list and do a similar process of figuring out how to adapt the low nickel diet to your own cooking.
      I hope that helps.
      Warm regards,
      Christy

  6. Thanks for sharing these relevant resources! These will be really useful for my research about nickel food allergies.

  7. I just found out I have an allergy to nickel sulfate at 54. I’ve had a recurring intense itchy rash off/on for 10 years. Multiple dermatologists, allergists skin biopsy and just to be told inconclusive and it’s eczema. Creams, topical solutions and ointments. Recently went to see another allergist that did the patch testing on my back and found it was nickel sulfate. Thank you for this site. It has so much information that I can use to get started on this challenging journey.

    1. Hi Teresa,
      Thank you for your comment and welcome to this journey. I’m glad you found my website and hope it’s helpful as you adjust to living with a nickel allergy and what that means for you and your diet, cookware and so much more.
      Warm regards,
      Christy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *