Titanium allergy is not to be taken lightly, but not too hard either

I’m pretty sure with the entire hype surrounding titanium allergy, asserting that titanium metal is virtually allergy free, relatively inert to most corrosion agents and practically full biocompatible, that most of you half expected this page to be entirely void.

Well, there are reasons why all these non-absolute words were invented in the first place, and there are reasons why these words are found especially in commercials and materials describing the various qualities of different products. And these reasons are usually called lawsuits. Nobody likes them, and there are people who study long years and charge gargantuan amounts of money by making everything possible to avoid them and their consequences.

But don not rush to throw your favorite titanium watch out off the window. Titanium is indeed an inert metal and its various applications in medicine were not made by accident. But, as all metals do, titanium presents the potentiality of releasing particles through corrosion.

Titanium allergy is so rare, that is barely recognized within mainstream medicine. It has been reported, but the conditions and symptoms reported are so widespread and bewildering, that it wasn’t possible for practitioners to organize and pin-point a special symptom category for titanium, a common occurrence in situations when reports are inconsistent and incoherent and usually there is more to the patient than a simple allergy.

It’s true that a complex of factors needs to concur simultaneously in order for that to happen, ranging from the titanium’s form, environmental temperature and the right reagents. But it can happen. And if it happens inside or around the human body, these metal particles become ions that circulate freely inside the human body binding themselves to human proteins. For some people, the natural antigens of the immune system will detect this new artificial structure and will try to dispose of it by attacking it, thus developing a titanium allergy reaction.

However, titanium allergy is so rare, that is barely recognized as such within mainstream medicine. It has been reported, but the conditions and symptoms were so diverse and bewildering, that it hasn’t been possible so far for practitioners to pin-point a special symptom category for titanium allergy. This is a common occurrence in situations when reports are inconsistent or incoherent and there are usually more medical problems attached to the respective patient than a simple allergy.

The most widespread symptom of a titanium allergy seems to be chronic fatigue syndrome. This the name given to several disorders, generally defined by persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion, which doesn’t alleviate by rest and are extended for a period longer than six months. Other reported symptoms of titanium allergy were skin rashes, swelling, itchiness, skin redness and hives.

It is easily seen that the vast majority of these symptoms are related to the interaction of titanium in the form of the metal with the human body. It is usually caused by various medical implants and in a far lesser degree, by titanium body jewelry.

There is an intense ongoing debate about the interaction of titanium dioxide in the form of nano sized particles with the human body, as the nanotechnology is starting to develop into a mass applied standard. So far, titanium dioxide nanoparticles are the most often used in products that have the potential of presenting allergy risks to human, such as titanium sunscreen, food stuff and paint. Although there were some scientific studies regarding the potential damage to living tissue caused by titanium dioxide nano particles, no decisive conclusion has been established yet.

There is only one test that can be used to determine titanium allergy, called the MELISA® test. This is a blood in vitro test used for the diagnosis of delayed hypersensitivity to metals. The technology is called “in vitro lymphocyte transformation” and has been utilized for some years to assist in the diagnosis of delayed type sensitivity to metals.

In the professional literature the studies seem to validate the accuracy of this type of test, but more in determining exposure to metals, including titanium, and not necessarily in determining delayed hypersensitivity that produces allergy.

So far, there is no consensus statement at this time from any professional organization as to whether or not the data obtained from this test can be used to make clinical decisions. Therefore in the final analysis, the individual patient and their physician must make a personal risk/benefit decision.

If you were tested positive, or you think you maybe allergic to titanium, by experiencing some of the symptoms I’ve detailed above, the best fast solution is to avoid exposure, if possible – remove the items of titanium jewelry or stop using titanium dioxide based products. If you have a titanium implant, get professional help as soon as possible.



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