Prevention of nickel release with barrier coatings

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis from nickel is very common in the United States. A barrier coating to be used on personal items such as snaps or watches would be of great use in preventing the consequences of nickel allergy. Objective: To evaluate various barrier coatings and their ability to yield a negative dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test result. Methods: Four different barrier coatings were assessed prior to soaking in saline, after soaking in saline for 2 days, and after soaking in saline for 7 days. Results: Depending on the number of coatings and the time soaked in saline, the different barriers showed different efficacies in yielding a negative DMG test result. Conclusions: Nickel Guard and Beauty Secrets Hardener were most effective in yielding a negative DMG test result. Beauty Secrets Hardener was the more cost-effective choice.