Nickel Free Fashion Sales on the Rise as Metal Allergy Hits a New High

A growing community of nickel allergy sufferers is giving way to a whole new cottage industry: The nickel free accessory shop.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 15, 2005 -- Nickel allergy, already the most common contact allergy in North America, is on the rise. Nickel, found in a wide array of common household objects like eyeglasses, jewelry, belt buckles, and watches, affects approximately 15% of the population. And each year, the population of nickel allergy sufferers seems to grow in size.

Although the use of nickel in jewelry is banned in most of Europe, the United States still has no measure in place to prevent the use of nickel in objects that come into prolonged and intimate contact with the skin. And with nickel allergy affecting approximately 15% of the population, more and more folks with dermatitis are turning over every stone in search of the elusive nickel free belt or watch.

Enter nonickel.com.

In 2004, Nonickel.com set out to build the world's first itch-free belt. Since its inception, the site has been a magnate for a growing niche community of metal allergy sufferers looking for hypoallergenic accessories they can wear close to the skin.

"I could find nickel free jewelry online, but no matter how hard I hit the search engines, I could not find nickel free belts, nickel free buckles, or nickel free watches" says Jimmy Sepulveda, a nickel allergy sufferer of 15 years. "I simply avoided belts all-together until my dermatologist recommended the site last month". And more and more dermatologists are spreading the word.

Nonickel.com is targeting dermatologists and their patients this month, to let allergy patients know they can wear a watch or a belt without the itch. And allergy patients are responding. Nonickel.com has seen sales double since its inception just 10 months ago. Soon, the online outlet plans to expand into brick and mortar stores with a new line of nickel free products for men, women, and children.

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