I told him my health history and the success I've had on a low nickel/cobalt diet. ⠀
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He told me that systemic contact dermatitis is a controversial diagnosis and not everyone believes in it. He told me I should find a doctor that is a believer and he recommended a patch test specialist that he thought would be a good fit. ⠀
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I left feeling so frustrated and minimized. How could he dismiss my story completely? How could this diagnosis still be controversial when there have been double-blind, placebo controlled studies proving it exists!? ⠀
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My firsthand experience with systemic contact dermatitis is why I started my wellness business. As a healthcare professional, I couldn't believe how little was known about this allergy. My experience has left me determined to raise awareness and help people with this allergy who have no where to turn. ⠀
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Nickel allergy rates are on the rise, approximately 20% of the patch-tested patients in the US have a nickel allergy. It is estimated that 10% (some researchers say up to 20%) of the nickel allergic population could be sensitive to dietary sources of nickel. ⠀
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This quote is from Dr. Matthew Zirwas, a contact dermatitis specialist based in Ohio. ⠀
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