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There has been a dramatic rise
in the number of nickel allergy sufferers over the past five
years; making nickel number one among 49 common contact skin
allergens tested by the AAD's North American Contact Dermatitis
Group in its most recent study. This will be the subject of a
briefing by David Cohen, MD, a New York expert on contact dermatitis
which is often linked to nickel in jewelry and body piercing.
The briefing will be held at 8 am on October 28 at the New York
Hilton, and is part of the American Academy of Dermatology's
National Healthy Skin Month kickoff beginning in November.
Among the supporters of AAD public
education programs like this one is Roman Research, manufacturer
of Simply Whispers and other allergy-safe jewelry. In addition
to its participation with the AAD, Roman Research is launching
nickel-allergy education programs and labeling reform to educate
consumers on body piercing risks. Says Dale Southworth, president
of Roman Research in Hanson, Massachusetts, the company will
develop a campaign to make the public aware of how nickel allergies
can be brought on by shoddy ear and body piercing, the prevalence
of nickel in fashion jewelry, and how an allergy to nickel can
be avoided with proper ear piercing and allergy-safe jewelry.
With 14.5 percent of the population
now allergic to nickel, this element is the number one contact
allergen in the industrial world, according to the Journal of
the American Academy of Dermatology. In the AAD study, nickel
was followed by common allergens such as fragrances in cosmetics;
neomycin, a topical antibiotic; thimerosal, a contact lens solution
preservative, and balsam of Peru, an ingredient in ointments.
While no one is born with a nickel allergy, experts suspect that
the condition is caused by exposure to nickel during ear or body
piercing or from nickel in earring studs inserted right after
piercing. Dr. Donald V. Belsito, an author of the AAD Journal
article on topical allergens, speculates that the growing popularity
of body piercing is contributing to problem.
When it comes to product labeling,
dermatologists dislike the term, "hypoallergenic,"
and consider it virtually meaningless. As part of Roman Research's
involvement in the AAD educational program, the company is calling
for labeling reform and is asking industry leaders to develop
meaningful solutions. "More informative labeling or a toll-free
telephone number that identifies specific common allergens in
consumer products would be far more useful. When so-called hypoallergenic
jewelry is worn by those who suffer from nickel allergies, they
break out, lose confidence in the labeling and give up wearing
jewelry. We need to establish standards consumers can trust,"
says Southworth who is assembling a team of medical and communication
experts to develop effective labeling and labeling standards.
A widely used guide for dermatologists
titled Fisher's Contact Dermatitis by Drs. Alexander A. Fisher,
Joseph F. Fowler and Robert L. Rietschel, cites Roman Research
as a reliable source of nickel-safe jewelry. In 1970, the company
invented the first one-step ear piercing system that uses a surgical
stainless steel stud to puncture the lobe. The sterilized stud
is used only once and remains in place until the puncture heals,
eliminating the danger of transferring pathogens from one individual
to another. Today, the company manufactures allergy-safe fine
and fashion jewelry exclusively. Products are manufactured from
surgical stainless steel with 24 kt. gold electroplating or of
nickel-free alloys with 24 kt. gold or palladium electroplating.
Roman Research manufactures nickel-safe
jewelry marketed through the Simply Whispers national mail order
catalog and website. For details, or to offer labeling suggestions,
telephone 800-451-5700 or use the Roman Research website: www.simplywhispers.com. |
