Ear Piercing Hazard of Nickel-Gold Sensitization

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To the Editor.— The clinical note of Johnson et al (227:1165, 1974) emphasizes the danger of a viral infection with the production of hepatitis.Staphylococcusinfections are also not unusual. Another lesser-known hazard is the production of allergic contact sensitivity to nickel and gold. In the past year, I have studied six women and one man who became sensitized to nickel from having their ears pierced and nickel-plated or nickel-gold alloy earrings inserted. One other patient became sensitized to gold from the procedure. Gaul (200:176, 1967) reported that: [The ear piercing] fashion has inadvertently produced an outbreak of earlobe dermatitis... [An] unknown number of subjects will develop a generalized nickel sensitivity... [that] will persist indefinitely [by having their ears pierced and then wearing nickel-containing jewelry.] There is no doubt that injury to the skin from mechanical, physical, or chemical agents followed by intimate contact with sensitizing allergens favors the development

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: