Nickel and gold in skin lesions of pierced earlobes with contact dermatitis. A study using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis.

Cases of contact dermatitis due to nickel and gold especially in pierced earlobes, are increasing in number the world over. However, the presence of these metal fragments has not been demonstrated in the skin lesions. The aim of this study was to demonstrate nickel and gold in contact dermatitis lesions in pierced earlobes. Skin specimens taken from such earlobe lesions were examined using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. The pierced earrings worn when the lesions appeared were examined by the same techniques, and their analysis confirmed. In nickel dermatitis, small, electron-dense fragments were seen in the specimens examined by scanning electron microscopy, and nickel was detected in locations corresponding to these fragments by x-ray microanalysis. In contact dermatitis due to gold, small dense fragments containing gold were observed. It is suggested that small fragments of nickel and gold remain in the skin lesions of pierced earlobes for a long time, even after the studs have been removed, and cause prolonged irritation and various cutaneous reactions.