Can I get a tattoo?
Whoever suffers from a nickel allergy and wants to get a tattoo, may come across various alarming articles in the research, which report about a questionable nickel content in the tattoo colors. If such a color is used for tattooing, even very small amounts of nickel can lead to an allergic reaction, after all, the color is brought under the natural protective barrier of the body, the skin. The nickel exposure does not affect all colors, however, depending on the manufacturer, the composition varies. If a nickel-free color is used, the allergy should not stand in the way of a tattoo. It is recommended to check the quality of the studio in question and to consult with the tattoo artist in this regard.
Can I wear braces?
To use a nickel-containing metal for the wires of braces has become unusual. Metallic components that could trigger a cross-allergy are also normally no longer used. A person with nickel allergy can therefore always wear braces. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the treating dentist or orthodontist be contacted for safety reasons, if he or she has not already discussed the topic of allergy.
What do I do if I have a nickel allergy and need a knee prosthesis?
So-called endoprostheses, i.e. prostheses that are inserted into the body, are usually made of metal. Therefore the question is justified whether difficulties are to be expected in the case of a nickel allergy by inserting a prosthesis into the knee, for example. However, there is good news for allergy sufferers: Prostheses are always nickel-free because they are made of material that does not cause allergic reactions.
Since nickel is a metal to which many people have an allergic reaction, special attention is naturally paid here to avoiding the use of nickel in the manufacture of prostheses. The same applies to the instruments used for insertion during the operation. A nickel allergy is therefore no cause for concern in an upcoming operation of any kind.
