Published in Chemistry World, 4 Apr 2011
Researchers in the US claim to have made a cream to combat nickel allergy. The treatment uses nanoparticles to trap nickel on the skin of mice before it is absorbed- but there is some doubt whether it will work equally well with humans.
Nickel sensitivity occurs when the metal accumulates inside the skin and triggers an immune reaction, including rashes and inflammation. The condition is not inherited but develops from prolonged skin contact with the metal -from working in nickel environments, such as battery manufacture, or wearing nickel-plated jewellery. In the UK, around ten per cent of the population is affected. […]
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