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Ear piercing – a cause of nickel allergy in schoolgirls?
Author(s) -
LarssonStymne Birgitta,
Widström Lena
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1985.tb02580.x
Subject(s) - nickel allergy , medicine , allergy , nickel , contact allergy , dermatology , pediatrics , contact dermatitis , surgery , immunology , metallurgy , materials science
960 schoolgirls of ages 8, 11 and 15 years were investigated regarding the frequency of ear piercing and the prevalence of nickel and cobalt allergy. 72% had had their ears pierced. The prevalence of nickel allergy in the whole material was 9%, among girls with pierced ears 13% and among those without pierced ears 1%. The results show that the prevalence of nickel allergy is just as high among schoolgirls as among adult women. There is a clear relationship between ear piercing and induction of nickel allergy. Prophylactic measures to reduce the prevalence of nickel allergy should be directed against this risk factor.