A closer look
Getting a horrific rash from your own loose change or favorite wrench is an occupational hazard nobody warns you about. Nickel contact dermatitis is the most common metal allergy worldwide, disproportionately ruining the lives of hairdressers, mechanics, and cashiers who handle nickel-plated tools daily. Human sweat acts as a corrosive solvent, literally leaching nickel ions out of the metal and dragging them through the epidermis where the immune system violently attacks them. Prevention is not as simple as wearing gloves; it requires bizarre mitigation strategies like painting tool handles with polyurethane or using entirely titanium-forged equipment to avoid turning your hands into a blistered wasteland.
