Nickel allergy help

[s1mp3]

I need some help.
Last week I've developed some sort of rash all over my body.
I thought it was because of the PG and have switched to all VG juice (even though I've vaped 50/50 mixes for the last year and a half).
Rash was still there.
Today I've got an allergy test results, and it says that I have a nickel allergy.
My primary PV's are SS GGTS+Ody V2 and SilverDog.
As far as I know, both devices are made from 304 or 304L SS with very little percentage of nickel.
Because I haven't developed any sort of rash at my palms i think that the problem isn't in PV's itself.
I'm thinking now that maybe the problem lies in NiCr NR and NiCr ressistance wires that I use for Odysseus.
Is it possible that NiCr wire, when heated, although submerged in liquid, emits some sort of nickel fumes which I inhale together with the vapour?
I will definitely try to make future setups with 99.99% silver wire as NR and A1 Kanthal as ressistance wire.
From what I've found on the internet, there is no nickel in Kathal wire.
Definition says "Kanthal A-1 is a ferritic iron-chromium-aluminium alloy (FeCrAl alloy)"
What are your thoughts?
Thank's in advance!

 

[Kurt]

Yes, this is why Kanthal is becoming popular in the rebuildable atty world. That said, I have not heard of a Ni allergy or causing a rash. Not saying it can't happen, just this is the first I have heard of this. Generally what you are describing is from PG. There are other toxicological issues with Ni, however, and thus people are starting to avoid it as much as possible. Keep us updated, please! And good luck!

 

[s1mp3]

Thank you for your reply.
I've also first suspected that it was from PG.
Have switched to all VG juices, but the rash was still there.
Then I've decided to go and get the allergy test done.
Test showed pretty strong allergy to Nickel and nothing else (there were 15 allergens I think in the test).
After searching through the internet a bit, I've found that Nickel was the allergen of the year 2008 and that there are may people allergic to it.
After searching further, I've found that in the surgical and food grade SS, there is also Nickel (8-12%).
I love my Silver Dog and GGTS, but I'm afraid that just by holding it my allergy is starting to show.
Today I've ordered my first wooden box mod, so I'll see if things get better.
Maybe, at the end, it wasn't the PG after all.
Will keep you posted.

 

[Kurt]

Thank you for your reply.
I've also first suspected that it was from PG.
Have switched to all VG juices, but the rash was still there.
Then I've decided to go and get the allergy test done.
Test showed pretty strong allergy to Nickel and nothing else (there were 15 allergens I think in the test).
After searching through the internet a bit, I've found that Nickel was the allergen of the year 2008 and that there are may people allergic to it.
After searching further, I've found that in the surgical and food grade SS, there is also Nickel (8-12%).
I love my Silver Dog and GGTS, but I'm afraid that just by holding it my allergy is starting to show.
Today I've ordered my first wooden box mod, so I'll see if things get better.
Maybe, at the end, it wasn't the PG after all.
Will keep you posted.

Interesting! So does this mean you break out if you handle stainless steel? I wouldn't think there would be any available Ni, even if SS contains it. SS does not decompose very easily. Coils are another issue entirely, since heating does cause decomposition over time (why they don't last forever). Please keep us posted. I am wondering if this is more common than we suspected...or at least than I suspected.

 

[s1mp3]

The only thing which contains Ni and which I handle everyday are my PV's.
Maybe the problem lies in NiCr NR and R wire used in making setups in Ody... who knows...
I'll try to use wooden box for some time, with setups only with kanthal wire, and monitor my allergie, can't do anything else...
I've just bought carbon vinyl sticker and my plan is to stick it around my GP Piccolo and Spheroid to minimize the contact with SS, and see how it goes.
Maybe I need some time avoiding Ni so it's levels in body normalize.
I've also noticed today that my lips feel strange after using Ody for u full day (SS mouthpiece!?).
I think I'll cry...

 

[jamie]

I have a contact allergy to Nickel and haven't had a problem with ecigs. That may not be the same type of allergy as yours though. I do feel for you and understand your being distressed, I would feel the same.

 

[s1mp3]

I have a contact allergy to Nickel and haven't had a problem with ecigs. That may not be the same type of allergy as yours though. I do feel for you and understand your being distressed, I would feel the same.

What PV's are you using?
And you haven't got any allergy showed up using them?

 

[jamie]

Mainly have used 801s (still!), 901s, 808 cartos, Ego Mega cartos, Ego Tanks, and Vivi Nova. Probably tried a few others I've forgotten. No problems with anything I've used.

As I said my problems with Nickel have always been contact-related and symptoms match exactly what Google will show, along with that it's likely the most common contact allergy in the first world as you noted. There are likely to have been hundreds to thousands of other folks with the same allergy who have visited ECF and it still isn't a known vaping-related issue.

That's why I said I'm not sure if our allergies are the same. You might need to get clarification on this from your doc. If you tested positive for common, run of the mill Nickel contact allergy, well, a substantial percentage of people would and it may be unrelated to your rash. Which doesn't help I know.

I don't want to encourage you to continue doing anything that is causing a problem for you so don't read this as such, but years before ecigs there were two occasions where I had a weird widespread rash and both times it was treated and went away with no known reason ever found. If I recall correctly, a dermatologist can even examine cells from a rash and tell you if it's likely to be from an allergy or not, I had that done once.

 

[jamie]

Was just re-reading the thread and thought I'm not clear on the specifics of the metal handling and manipulation you are doing, it does sound like you may be doing a lot of it. Perhaps you are on to something with >> "Maybe I need some time avoiding Ni so it's levels in body normalize."

 

[s1mp3]

Jamie,
Thank you for all of your suggestions.
I'll try to avoid Ni as much as I can and I'll see.
I have an appointment with derm.
I hope that he/she will make thigs a little bit clearer.
Will keep community posted.
One good thing though, I've always wanted a wooden bottom feader
Be well, my friend!

Sent from my thumb

 

[rolygate]

This is an interesting area because on the face of it, people will only be exposed to amounts of nickel similar to the active dosages in homeopathic medicines - infinitesimal or immeasurably small. It begs the question, what then is the result of similar or larger quantities in the diet?

 

[s1mp3]

I've read many articles over the net regarding amount of nickel in food, and it seems that he is present in wide variety of food we eat every day.
Maybe I should consider visiting out family homeopatic doctor, now that you've mention it.

Sent from my thumb

 

[aikanae1]

I have a strong nickle allergy. The contact dermatitus is an intolerance and so it's localized as a rash. A true allergy is systemic. They can measure it in the blood. SS has nickle. Surgical steel has even more nickle but it's "bound" by a process - suppossedly. The reality is it's not and surgical steel isn't used/approved (US/EU) for medical inplants anymore.

Nickle is probably in your dental fillings too.

Nickle is naturally present in a lot of foods, like chocolate. I have seen a diet online to reduce the level of nickle from foods and it's fairly severe. It's in that many foods and I assume, flavors.

A lot of people would score very high for nickle allergy but that doesn't mean that's what's causing your rash. Usually I look for multiple clues, reactions within a "family" of related items - several high nickle foods. Medications can suddenly cause an allergic reaction too even if you've been taking them for awhile. A rash is just not much of a clue on it's own.

A full battery of allergy tests takes month -> years. It's quite a process. There are thousands of things they can test you for. A test of 15 doesn't mean much.

Who did your testing? If you are having an allergy reaction, you need to see a allergy specialist. Someone familar with allergies maybe able to take one look and tell you what it is.

Caution; A lot of people are sent on $$$ hunts tracking down allergies that don't exist.

 

[s1mp3]

Thank you for your reply and suggestions! I'll look into it more deeply.
For starters I'm selling all of my SS pv's (bought a wooden bottomfeeder), and have stopped using all of mine SS driptips.
I'm afraid that nickel isn't enough bonded in SS and don't wont to take that risk.
Thank's again!

Sent from my thumb

 

[Horselady154]

Have there been any studies showing the amount of nickel, aluminum, etc. in vapor, if any?

 

[rolygate]

I think there have been two. One found no measurable quantities, the other carefully examined vapour in microscopic detail and found infinitesimally small amounts they referred to as 'nanoparticles'.

So I believe a fair answer is that metallic particles do exist in vapour, perhaps even as much as may be encountered in the air in a city street.

 

[progg]

I haven't had the time to go through the studies in the following thread so I'm not sure if Nickle is included in any of them. At the least, you might find the thread interesting.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/canada-forum/385381-study-what-vapor-we-exhale.html

ETA: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...s-electronic-cigarette-vapor.html#post8276254

^^^This has a link to a Ruyan liquid analysis and does include heavy metals. (post # 33)

 

[Bempathetic]

I have a nickel contact allergy also ( I came across this thread looking to see if those of us with this problem can tolerate aluminum drip tips - bc I don't know if nickel is added to them - if anyone knows, please fill me in ). But, the reason I'm responding is that I want to mention another possibility that no one has given. Please take this post lightly, I'm not trying to frighten/alarm anyone, only trying to spread the word. About 8 years ago, my wife( she was 22 at the time) had similar symptoms. Full body rash. The Dr.'s couldn't figure it out, the rash was tested - it only showed them the sort of reaction that skin would have to an insect bite. My wife went to many specialists, had tons of allergy tests done. Nothing was found. She was dismissed by many Dr.'s telling her to change her diet, use hypoallergenic detergents and soaps, etc. The last specialist she saw told her it was just eczema. The rash seemed to get better on steroids, but after about 8 months it stopped working. This went on for over 3 years. Then, she started noticing that she was having trouble swallowing bread. Then she got a cough. Around this time, my best friend was hospitalized for severe pneumonia (they had to cut open his chest to drain it). She got scared and thought maybe the cough was pneumonia and she had caught it from him. She asked the Dr. to order a chest xray, she had cancer....for years. One of the earliest signs of lymphoma can be a rash (it initially started on her hips, and then eventually spread all the way down her legs, and arms and back through the years). I'm not saying you have cancer, it is probably just a systemic allergy - but I felt obligated to mention this just in case it persists long term. If it doesn't go away and the Dr.'s can't figure it out, it could be a possiblity. My wife's primary Dr. didn't know that it was a symptom until her diagnosis, and a year later an 8 year old patient of his had the same symptoms, and he was quickly diagnosed, treated, and saved.
I hope you discover the source of your rash and can resolve it. And I am very sorry if my post has scared anyone, but I'm a "rather know than not kind of guy."

 

[s1mp3]

Thank you, Bempathetic, for pointing this out.
I've had my chest x-rayed a few months ago and it was all clear.
My rash has gone (I've stopped using NiCr wire, SS and aluminium driptips).
Besides nickel allergy I have been diagnosed with anxiety a few years ago (two little kids, stressful job, problems with my parents etc.).
If anyone knows what your mind can do to your body these are the people with anxiety problems.
Who knows, maybe the rash came as a result of some weird body chemistry going on.
Anyway, I'm still doing some tests my alergenist want's me to do, so I should see the results soon.

 

[Bempathetic]

I'm glad to hear this. I can completely relate as I too suffer from anxiety. Hang in there and best of luck to you