Chromium allergy
Contact allergy to chromium, in leather and cement.
About chromium allergy
Chromium, specifically hexavalent chromium salts, is a well-recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis, a delayed type IV reaction that typically shows up one to three days after contact. Classic sources are wet cement, leather tanned with chromium (shoes, gloves, watch straps), and some paints, dyes and metalwork. It has long been an occupational problem for construction and building workers, sometimes called cement dermatitis, and also affects people sensitised through chrome-tanned leather footwear.
The rash is itchy, red and often scaly or cracked, and with heavy exposure it can blister and weep. On the hands and forearms it is common in cement and leather workers, while shoe-related allergy tends to affect the tops of the feet and toes. Repeated contact can drive the dermatitis into a chronic, thickened state that is slow to settle. Chromium allergy occurs independently of nickel and cobalt, though a person can be sensitised to more than one metal at once.
Diagnosis relies on patch testing by a dermatologist, not skin-prick testing. Management is avoidance: choosing chrome-free or vegetable-tanned leather, wearing suitable protective gloves, and, in cement work, using products with reduced hexavalent chromium. Barrier creams and emollients support the skin, and topical steroids may be prescribed for flares. See your GP or an occupational-health service if a work-related hand rash persists.
Common triggers
- Chromium and products containing it
Symptoms
- Red, itchy rash (contact dermatitis)
- Dry, cracked or scaly skin
- Blistering or weeping in severe cases
- Burning or stinging where skin met the trigger
Avoidance & management
- Avoid skin contact with the trigger
- Wear gloves or use barrier creams
- Choose products labelled free from the allergen
- Rinse skin promptly after contact
- Use emollients or prescribed steroid creams
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.