Nickel Allergy

[Kendell Scott]

Does anyone else out there with a nickel allergy have any tips for dealing with it? I played 4 three hour gigs this week and now I’ve got a pretty large and itchy rash on my left wrist where it rides along the nickel strings of my C6 neck when I’m playing E9. Should I give stainless steel strings a try on my back neck?

[Jerry Overstreet]

No experience or knowledge of the allergy but, some players have a cover of some sort over the back neck. Pretty easy to make using some material and some bendable wire sewn in on each end to secure it.

Stainless steel still has some amount of nickel in it, tho I don't know the composition.

Else work on your posture keeping your bar hand off the strings...it can be done with practice.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Nickel is one of the components of some grades of Stainless Steel. Changing strings, May not help your problem.

Just a simple removable pad of some type, To lay on the C6th neck strings. So your wrists do not contact the strings on the C6th neck should work.

Just a hand towel folded to cover the strings may be a good starting point. A Naugha Hyde strip to cover strings would be another thing you may want to try.

Good Luck finding a cure, Itching and picking would not be fun.

[Jon Jaffe]

I would definitely try stainless steel strings. Nickel allergy is caused by a substance in your skin that combines with nickel to produce a third compound that causes delayed hypersensitivity, like poison ivy.

Even surgical instruments of stainless steel contain some nickel, but it's generally considered hypoallergenic. The manufacturer of the strings should be aware of how much nickel they contain.

Wear long sleeves and sweatbands on your wrist like tennis players. Nickel hypersensitivity is lifelong, and over-the-counter itching medicine may help symptomatically.

Here is a picture of a customer of mine with nickel hypersensitivity caused by a belt buckle.

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[Jerry Overstreet]

FWIW, this is one I made with velour and a couple pieces of electrical wire. Just slip the bends under the strings and bend up. Takes a couple seconds. This one was made for the right hand to keep sweat from corroding the strings on the back neck, but it could be expanded to cover the entire neck.

[Avery Bradshaw]

I suffer with an allergy to metal too. When I played banjo a lot, my right arm would get a rash from the arm rest. I ended up having to replace the metal armrest with a wooden one. When I play steel, I usually have to put a cloth over the C6 neck when I am not using it. I also have to take my picks off periodically and clean my hands. My fingers still turn green but at least they don’t have a rash. I would suggest covering your back neck when not in use. I hope you find some relief!

[Kendell Scott]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I also had the same problem with belt buckles, dobro cones, and banjo armrests as mentioned in the replies. Reckon I’ll give stainless strings a shot on my back neck, and if that doesn’t work I’ll look into some kind of pad. I already keep a towel under my right arm but it seemed like it might get in the way with my left arm movement so I’d like to avoid that if I can.

[Ron Funk]

Hi Kendall

Sent you an email via the Forum’s email system

Take care -
Ron