[null, {"document_url": "https://www.nickelinstitute.org/policy/nickel-and-product-policy/nickel-and-nickel-allergic-contact-dermatitis/", "unformatted_src": "/media/1087/istock-499855910-2.jpg", "src": "https://www.nickelinstitute.org/media/1087/istock-499855910-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "istock"}, null]
Nickel and nickel allergic contact dermatitis

Many chemical agents and some metals - including nickel - can provoke allergic contact dermatitis.

Approximately 15% of women and 2% of men suffer from nickel allergic contact dermatitis (NACD).


For NACD reactions to occur there needs to be three conditions present simultaneously:

It is the quantity of nickel released, rather than the level of nickel content, which determines the potential to provoke nickel allergy or NACD reactions.


There has been EU legislation for many years restricting nickel release in articles intended for direct and prolonged skin contact. This was first established by Directive 94/27/EC (the so-called ‘Nickel Directive’) and subsequently incorporated into REACH (Annex XVII, Entry 27). The aim of the legislation is to prevent the general population from becoming sensitised to nickel and to reduce NACD reactions in the majority of nickel-sensitised individuals.

The Regulation states that “Nickel and nickel compounds shall not be used: Articles cannot be placed on the EU market unless they comply with this requirement, in accordance with the relevant CEN standards on nickel-release testing (e.g. EN 1811; EN 12472; EN 16128). Since the introduction of this restriction, the prevalence of nickel allergy in the European population has fallen. This suggests that where the legislation is complied with and enforced, it is effective.


Following a mandate from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been developing additional guidance on implementing the EU’s restrictions on nickel. In 2014, ECHA adopted a guidance interpretation of what constitutes ‘prolonged contact’. It is also undertaking additional work to develop a list of articles falling inside and outside of the scope of the restriction.


The Nickel Institute supports the objectives of the EU's nickel restriction in preventing allergy and NACD.

It is essential to use appropriate materials in those applications requiring direct and prolonged contact with the skin. In these circumstances, using low nickel-releasing materials will help prevent sensitisation or NACD.
To be targeted, effective and proportionate, the scope of the ECHA guideline list should be restricted to:

For further information, please see the Nickel Institute’s Position Paper on nickel allergy and the EU nickel restriction.



Similar provisions to the EU nickel restriction are in place in other countries. For example, China adopted a standard (GB 28480-2012) in 2012 that restricts the release of nickel in body piercing (0.2μg/cm²/week) and in articles intended to come into direct and prolonged skin contact, such as jewellery items (0.5μg/cm²/week). These limits are in line with the EU nickel restriction.


Other countries, such as the United States and Canada have no specific legislation to restrict the release of nickel in articles. However, there are a number of standards that provide important references for manufacturers of relevant products:

These ASTM Standards include specifications for nickel in metal components. They list, amongst others, surgical stainless steel as one of the approved materials for body-piercing jewellery in both adults and children.
