Posts by shadowsailor9

I've been on the hunt for some high-waisted trousers lately, and I'm really looking for a specific fit—something tight through the hips and waist, with a rise that hits right at the belly button. Ideally, they'd be full-length or at least knee-length. Does anyone have any recommendations on where I could pick these up in Los Angeles? I'm also totally open to shopping online if that's easier!

Patrick Harris8 said:So, here’s my situation—I’m a newcomer to the world of nickel allergies. I wasn't entirely sure if this thread was still active, but I figured I’d reach out to those of you who are walking the same path to share a few details and, hopefully, get some advice on how to protect myself. Right now, it’s hitting my hands—specifically, both of my thumbs are dealing with contact dermatitis. From what I’ve gathered reading through previous posts, it starts with these tiny little blisters, and then the skin begins to warp, eventually leading to open sores in those spots. It’s quite a process. My doctor recommended using a plain, neutral base cream, so that’s what I’ve been applying to my hands. I also try to wear cotton gloves from time to time—mostly when I know I’ll be handling metal that might have nickel in it. Since my issue is specifically contact dermatitis, I haven't gone overboard with dietary restrictions just yet—partly because, honestly, if I followed every single rule, I wouldn't know what was left to eat! But I am curious: should I be looking into changing my diet at all? I’ve done a bit of digging into food sources, but everywhere I look, the lists are just endless "don'ts." If I cut everything out, what am I actually supposed to eat? If anyone has any practical suggestions on nutrition or ways to manage this, I would truly appreciate the help... 😢

I can't offer much expertise regarding psoriasis, even though my father deals with it; I don't know nearly enough to be helpful. However, I do know that certain types can actually be managed quite well. My own little piece of advice would be to stick to lukewarm water rather than hot, and perhaps look into some traditional home remedies—sometimes those old-fashioned methods really do work wonders. I'll try to look into it more and let you know if I find anything (provided I don't forget! xD)
and if you happen to be in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend seeing the dermatologist Neira Puizina Ivić—she truly is the best!

Taylor Kelly6 said:If you’re dealing with a nickel allergy, my first bit of advice is just... stay away from working in a bakery if you can help it. 😠 I already knew the drill about avoiding costume jewelry and being careful with metal buttons or rivets on my clothes, but I had no idea that certain foods could actually trigger my symptoms too, so I ended up taking a job at a local bakery. Between the constant heat coming off the ovens and all that flour dust floating in the air from the kneading, my allergy just went through the roof... For me, using Diprogenta and Elocom really helps manage things, though. It’s also been a struggle because half my family deals with psoriasis and the other half has various skin conditions, so my skin is basically genetically predisposed to being sensitive to everything. I’ve realized that for me personally, stress and high temperatures are the biggest triggers, especially if I’m not being super careful about what I eat. As for food, I can’t even be near spinach without reacting... I’m pretty sensitive to most vegetables. After doing a lot of my own research and spending plenty of time seeing doctors, I’ve come to realize that if you have a severe allergy like I do, sometimes your only real option is to just give those triggers a very wide berth... 😁

I’ve been dealing with this allergy for five years now. My first step was always scouring the internet for lists of triggers—it turns out chocolate (basically any form of cocoa), mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, and even certain seeds or whole grains hit me the hardest. As for cortisone, I’d steer clear if possible because it thins the skin; I only use it when the symptoms are absolutely unbearable. It's similar with Claritin, though you'll have to check on other antihistamines yourself. For me, the real lifesaver has been Mustela cream; it's an emollient designed for atopic dermatitis, which is essentially what happens with my nickel allergy, but since it isn't a corticosteroid, I can apply it every single day. It actually helps strengthen the skin barrier, and you can find great lotions like CeraVe at the pharmacy to help out too. $40 How much can one truly satisfy themselves? 🙂

Goodness, you are like a walking, talking encyclopedia when it comes to this stuff! Haha. Also, just a quick tip: try to avoid cooking in that stainless steel pot; you're better off using Grandma’s old non-stick pans instead. They're coated so that you won't have any nickel leaching into your food while it boils.

Thomas Rodriguez11 said:So, here’s my situation—when I first went in for a piercing, they asked if I had any nickel allergies. Most of their high-end stuff is made from titanium or surgical steel, which technically still carries a tiny trace of nickel, whereas that cheap costume jewelry you find at a mall kiosk is basically just nickel. I told them I thought I was fine, even though—if I’m being honest—cheap earrings always make my ears itch like crazy. Back then, I just got my navel done, which is pretty much "dead space" on the body, so I wasn't too worried about a reaction. But now? Now I’m thinking about getting my tongue pierced, and that’s a whole different ballgame. If I actually *do* have an allergy, I don't want to deal with some massive, localized reaction right in the middle of my mouth 😁 Does anyone have recommendations for a good clinic or a specialist where I could get tested for this? Thanks!

First off, legitimate titanium used in reputable tattoo shops shouldn't contain any nickel at all. I've personally switched entirely to titanium because I have the worst nickel allergy—I react to things as simple as eating more than two squares of chocolate! As for steel, I believe there are different grades; one version is nickel-free while the other isn't, though I can't say for certain which is which.
I get all my jewelry from a local shop near me in Los Angeles and have never had an issue; sticking to pure titanium should be your safest bet since it's essentially nickel-free, which you can verify through various European Union standards. 🙂

Regarding testing, I haven't read much on it, but typically you would visit a dermatologist at a local hospital with a referral, and they will send you for the necessary tests.

Kyle Barnes3 said:I'm 16 years old and I've never really taken sports seriously—I'm mostly a computer guy—but I've become super interested in parkour and want to start training... my conditioning is pretty poor... I'm about 5'11" and weigh around 175 lbs, so I'm not exactly an athlete... (the only thing I know regarding parkour is the lazy vault, where you clear a rail using just one hand)... can anyone recommend some strength, endurance, or conditioning exercises, or maybe a workout plan to help me prepare? Thanks so much!

You have some great videos on YouTube available; if you search for "parkour drills" or something similar, you'll find plenty of guides, and there are also some cool American parkour communities online that offer great resources...
It might be best to design a personalized routine for yourself and gradually push your limits. For instance, you could try running for 10 minutes one day, 15 the next, then 20, continuing until you can sustain it for an hour or two. You can apply that same progressive logic to everything else: push-ups, planks, sit-ups, pull-ups, and even practicing handstands. Most sports follow a similar principle; once you get into shape, you'll be ready to go. You should also work on your grip strength, which helps with things like hanging from your fingers during a cat leap (just look that up on YouTube or Google if you aren't familiar). I hope this helps, and feel free to send me a private message if you'd like more specific advice! 🙂 👍

(p.s. through those online communities, you can also find local groups in your own city...)

Jessica Palmer2 said:Heyyy... so, I’ve got a bit of a weird one for you guys—maybe even a little out there—but can nickel allergies actually cause nausea and stomach issues? Like, seriously, could that be happening?!?!?

I'm not entirely sure, though it's possible since nickel can be found in certain foods... but you should definitely get tested just to be safe. Honestly, it feels more likely that it might be something else entirely..
Best of luck!

Walter Sanchez2 said:I’ve finally sorted my situation out, and if you're struggling, I can tell you that taking allergy medication for a while actually works—even if they do make you feel a bit drowsy...
I haven't had a single reaction since. If anything does pop up during periods of high stress or intense heat, the fix is simple: just apply some Benadryl cream a few times a day.

How did you manage to resolve yours? And what kind of allergy were you dealing with specifically? Because from what I understand, a nickel allergy is a lifelong thing—to be clear, it's actually incurable! It’s common for the symptoms to just lessen, though in my case, they seem to be getting worse... it's honestly awful. I've been searching everywhere for help, but so far, nothing. Everyone tells me the same thing: it's permanent, so just stay away from the source, the nickel... but how is that even possible? It feels like it's in the very air we breathe! It's in everything—food, coins, clothing fasteners, silverware, even our cookware...

CRISTIAN LAY <--- TOTAL LIES
They claim their jewelry is nickel-free... yeah, right. I bought some earrings and my skin reacted almost immediately—literally within an hour. Please, don't ever trust them!
The first reason (which, honestly, should have been obvious to me! 😠) is that their prices are way too low for genuine nickel-free pieces. Usually, when you swap out nickel, you have to use much more expensive materials, which drives the price up... yet they're selling stuff for $20-$$10 and such.
Second, there is absolutely no customer support; you can't complain, you can't ask for a refund, and you can't even request a sample to verify if it’s actually nickel-free. It wasn't a fortune, but man, I was so excited. I thought, "Yes! I can finally wear jewelry without issues!" and they really let me down.
Third reason: it's catalog shopping... easily one of the worst ways to buy anything.

Harold Palmer23 said:The most intense reactions always happen when you start sweating. For instance, wearing a leather belt with a metal buckle during the winter isn't going to trigger much of anything, but once your skin gets damp? That's when things go haywire! It takes maybe five minutes of contact before it's all over. You won't have to worry about leaving marks on a doorknob or getting any residue on your silverware!

That is exactly right! As soon as nickel comes into contact with sweat, it reacts instantly because the body absorbs it so much faster... which is why jewelry is such a critical issue. Personally, I have this one outfit where I can't take off the studs, so I apply bandages to the inside—the thicker, the better!

There’s quite a bit of helpful information here regarding allergies

http://news.cnn.com/health/nickel-allergy-info

Essentially, you really ought to avoid any food prepared in nickel-based cookware...
As for what to stay away from, the list includes canned sodas, herring, oysters, asparagus, beans, peas, lettuce, mushrooms, both white and red onions, corn, grits, spinach, tomatoes, pears, whole wheat flour, rhubarb, cocoa, chocolate, and even baking powder...

If I may offer a bit of advice, I wouldn't recommend picking up clothes, like jackets or similar items, at flea markets; it's much safer to stick to major retailers. You might also want to swap out those metal buttons for plastic ones, and try to steer clear of cheap costume jewelry altogether. Generally speaking, it's best to only wear titanium, high-quality surgical steel—not the inexpensive stuff you find at a street fair, but the genuine, premium kind—or pure yellow gold.

I've been dealing with this allergy for several years now, and I must say, it can be quite a struggle. I find myself constantly reaching for Claritin or Diphenhydramine whenever a flare-up occurs because the itching is so intense that I end up scratching my skin raw. Over the last year, things have actually worsened, and I seem to react within just a few hours of exposure.
Oh, and one more thing... try to avoid direct sunlight and secondhand smoke, as both can make the reaction much more severe.

The concept of "parkour" isn't strictly about sport; it’s more accurately described as an efficient way to navigate obstacles or, as some prefer to call it, a lifestyle choice.
I actually train this in Los Angeles with my crew. If you're looking for resources, you can find pretty much anything you need on sites like Urban Freeflow and similar platforms.
Ultimately, it requires an immense amount of willpower. Those TV segments you see are honestly laughable; those crews are incredibly dedicated and hardworking, but journalists tend to sensationalize everything just to craft a narrative that grabs attention—basically, something people will watch and then mock. If they showed it for what it truly is, people might realize there's nothing to laugh at, and the novelty would wear off quickly. To find local practitioners, I usually check out community forums or Facebook groups, where you can easily find regional squads like Parkour Los Angeles or Parkour San Diego. 🙂