What is Belt Buckle Rash?
Belt buckle rash is a condition where the skin reacts to the metals in a belt buckle, usually nickel but other metals may be indicated too. It’s a form of contact dermatitis, signifying allergies to certain forms of metal. People with belt buckle rash or belt buckle allergy often get a raised rash where the belt buckle on belts remains in contact with the skin, such as right at, below, or above the belly button. The rash is irritating, red, raised, may have puffy or watery blisters, and can cause skin to break if prolonged exposure to the offending metal(s) continues. The most common cause of belt buckle rash is nickel present in the buckles. Nickel is fairly standard in most metal belts made in the US, but in some European countries its use has been outlawed because it is among the top ten irritants that can cause contact dermatitis. Women may be diagnosed with nickel allergy more frequently than men; yet there are plenty of men who have sensitivities to nickel. Belt buckle rash is of