NICKEL DERMATITIS PROVOKED BY BUTTONS IN BLUE JEANS

A total of 79 nickel‐sensitive patients (65 women, 14 men) were examined with regard to a present or past eczema corresponding to contact with metallic buttons in blue jeans; 63 % of the women and 64% of the men had or had had eczema of this kind. Among 40 % of the women below 30 years this was the primary site of manifestation. The seriousness of this sensitivity is illustrated by the fact that two‐thirds of the nickel sensitive patients with button dermatitis had or had had eczema of the hands. The conclusion is that blue jean buttons should he made of a material which does not contain nickel, for instance zinc alloys which are presently used for some metallic buttons, or they should be designed in such a way that the button does not directly contact the skin. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved