Immunology and Allergology >>>> Metal allergy - signs and treatment

Metal allergy - signs and treatment.

An allergic reaction to metal is not a rare occurrence, but it can be diagnosed only in cases of direct contact of the patient with metal structures used for prosthetics or in cases of wearing metal products. The most common cases of allergy to metal structures are detected during dental prosthetics. Specific symptoms do not always lead the patient to the idea of correlating poor health and the installed metal structure. Only the symptoms of an allergic reaction occurring directly in the oral cavity make it possible to assume the development of an allergic reaction to metal in the patient.

In cases where an allergic reaction to a metal product that comes into contact with the skin when worn occurs in places of such contact, it is much easier to diagnose, since signs of dermatitis are visualized (rash, redness, peeling, etc.).

The causes of metal allergy are not fully understood, but it is assumed that genetic identity and exogenous factors, or rather their combination, provoking an immune response, play a special role in immune allergic reactions to metal. By themselves, metal ions do not have sufficient antigenic properties to trigger an immune response, but the protein structures to which metal ions are attached are the antigens that the immune system begins to fight with. The penetration of metal ions occurs through the skin and mucous membranes in the presence of sweat (on the skin) or saliva (in the mouth). Simply put, a metal allergy develops when the metal ions traveling in the body tend to bind to proteins into stable compounds.

Allergies can be caused not only by active, but also inert metals, as well as their alloys. The most common cases of allergic reactions are observed with the use of cobalt, chromium, nickel and their alloys. Anti-corrosive metals such as zinc tend to cause allergies. Aluminum, which has recently been actively used in the industry for the manufacture of dishes, is also classified as an active metal that can cause allergic dermatitis. The safest metals are still considered gold, platinum and silver, but alloys of these metals with others are dangerous for allergy sufferers, since these metals are harmless only in their pure form.

Signs of a metal allergy:

on the skin and mucous membranes: burning, redness, swelling, rashes of various types in the places of contact of the metal with the mucous membrane or skin.
when metal ions enter the gastrointestinal tract, a reaction typical of food allergies can occur.

Treating metal allergies involves removing contact with the metal structure. Further, if signs of allergy persist, antihistamines are taken.

As a rule, metal allergic reactions are not large-scale, and it is enough to eliminate contact with the allergen itself to stop such an allergic reaction.

The most likely hardware products that can lead to metal allergies are:

In dentistry: filling materials, which may include metals as ingredients, inlays, root posts, implants, metal crowns, brazed and cast metal bridges, metal removable structures (clasp), splinting structures.
In traumatology: connecting fasteners, implanted titanium structures.
In everyday life: jewelry made of semi-precious metals and alloys of precious metals, jewelry for piercing, metal accessories (bracelets, jewelry, watches, cufflinks, brooches), dishes.