Itchy and Scratchy: Nickel, Gold and Fragrances Cause Many Skin Allergies

Got itchy skin? Check the list below: It contains the 10 most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, a common type of allergy that causes swollen, red and itchy skin, according to a new Mayo Clinic study.

Contact dermatitis is common among all age groups, said Dr. Mark Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist and lead researcher on the study, in a press release.

"Patients with contact dermatitis can get a very itchy rash from head to toe, or in a confined area," he said. "If it's on the hands and feet it can be disabling, and patients at times can't do their jobs."

Avoiding these allergens is the best way to prevent skin problems, Davis said, and rashes can sometimes be treated with cortisone creams, although about 3 percent of people with contact dermatitis are allergic to those products, too.

The most common triggers:

   Nickel (nickel sulfate hexahydrate) -- metal frequently encountered in jewelry and clasps or buttons on clothing

   Gold (gold sodium thiosulfate) -- precious metal often found in jewelry

   Balsam of Peru (myroxylon pereirae) -- a fragrance used in perfumes and skin lotions, derived from tree resin

   Thimerosal -- a mercury compound used in local antiseptics and in vaccines

   Neomycin sulfate -- a topical antibiotic common in first-aid creams and ointments, also found occasionally in cosmetics, deodorant, soap and pet food

   Fragrance mix -- a group of the eight most common fragrance allergens found in foods, cosmetic products, insecticides, antiseptics, soaps, perfumes and dental products

   Formaldehyde -- a preservative with multiple uses, e.g., in paper products, paints, medications, household cleaners, cosmetic products and fabric finishes

   Cobalt chloride -- metal found in medical products; hair dye; antiperspirant; objects plated in metal such as snaps, buttons or tools; and in cobalt blue pigment