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Metal Allergy and Hand Eczema

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Abstract

Hand eczema can be caused or aggravated by metals, especially in occupational settings. In particular, metal-induced allergic contact dermatitis of the hands should be considered in individuals with metal allergy. The most important metal allergens are nickel, cobalt and chromium. The level and type of exposure to these metals have substantially changed over time and differ between countries. Thus, if a metal is suspected as a possible cause of hand eczema in sensitised individuals, a thorough investigation is required to assess the specific metal exposure and its relevance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, Am Finkenhügel 7a, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany

    Richard Brans & Swen M. John

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  1. Richard Brans
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  2. Swen M. John
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Correspondence to Richard Brans .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Redwood City, CA, USA

    Jennifer K Chen

  2. Department of Dermatology and Allergy Herlev and Gentofte Hospital University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jacob P. Thyssen

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Brans, R., John, S.M. (2018). Metal Allergy and Hand Eczema. In: Chen, J., Thyssen, J. (eds) Metal Allergy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58503-1_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58503-1_36

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