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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may use some of the following treatments at home to treat contact dermatitis due to nickel allergy. If these treatments don't help or the rash worsens, contact your doctor. Home remedies include the following:
- Soothing lotions, such as calamine lotion, may alleviate itching.
- Wet compresses can be placed over the rash to help dry blisters and relieve itching. A wet compress can be made by soaking a clean cloth in Burow's solution, an over-the-counter medication containing aluminum acetate, or in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 16 parts water.
- Over-the-counter corticosteroids may alleviate itching and improve the condition of the rash. Talk to your doctor about how long you can safely use the product.
- Over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), may be beneficial to help relieve itching.
You should avoid certain over-the-counter ointments, such as antibiotic creams, which may contain ingredients that can worsen an allergic reaction. To be on the safe side, don't use creams with names ending in "-caine" to treat contact dermatitis.
- Davis MD, et al. Changing trends and allergens in the patch test standard series: A Mayo Clinic 5-year retrospective review, January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2005. Archives of Dermatology. 2008;144(1):67-72.
- Tips to remember: Allergic skin conditions. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/allergicskinconditions.stm. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- Weston WL, et al. Overview of dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 22, 2008.
- Weston WL, et al. Patient Information: Dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 22, 2008.
- Tattoos and body piercing. American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org/members/media/_doc/FactSheets_TattoosBody%20Piercing%20Fact%20Sheet.doc. Accessed July 30, 2008.
- Meltzer DI. Complications of body piercing. American Family Physician 2005;72(10):2029-2034.
- Position statement on body piercing (approved by the board of directors October 24, 1998). American Academy of Dermatology. www.aad.org/Forms/Policies/Uploads/PS/PS-Body%20Piercing%206-15-07.pdf. Accessed July 30, 2008.
- Do's and don'ts when considering tattoos or piercings. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/DosAndDontsConsideringTattoosPiercings.aspx. Accessed July 29, 2008.
- Torpy JM, et al. JAMA patient page. Body piercing. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2004;291(8):1024.
