AM I ALLERGIC TO TITANIUM BODY JEWELLERY?

Last year I had my navel pierced at a reputable salon for the fourth time.  The first two attempts my youngest son caught on the piercing (titanium belly bar) and the skin ripped.  The third time the skin around the piercing shrank and it rejected the belly bar after about 2 months, the same thing happened to the fourth one two weeks ago after the piercing had been in place for 11 and a half months.  Am I allergic to titanium body jewellery or is it a problem with my skin/stomach that goes deeper than this?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Although allergy to titanium is uncommon but can occur. When titanium is combined with other metals like nickel, then allergy can take place as nickel is a common sensitizer.

Diagnosis is done by skin patch test or blood tests for allergy. MELISA (Memory Lymphocyte Immunostimulation Assay) test is a blood test that is confirmatory for metal allergy. So please consult an allergist and get it done.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.