# Belt buckle allergy--ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280 "2015-08-07T23:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/1 "2015-08-07T23:12:47Z")
The resurrected thread about people wearing their belt buckles to the side reminded me of this, because both of my adult sons do this. But they do it because they are both allergic to the metal in the buckle. Any ideas about where they can get buckles that won’t make them miserable? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/2 "2015-08-07T23:26:38Z")
You could coat them in clear acrylic paint… ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/3 "2015-08-07T23:28:43Z")
I have metal sensitivities, too. I wear stainless steel earrings constantly now and it helps a lot. So I’d suggest belts with stainless steel buckles. Amazon has a bunch, for example: [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb\_sb\_noss?url=node%3D2474947011&field-keywords=stainless&lo=fashion-mens-accessories&rh=n%3A2474947011%2Ck%3Astainless](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D2474947011&field-keywords=stainless&lo=fashion-mens-accessories&rh=n%3A2474947011%2Ck%3Astainless) There’s a bunch under the tag, “nickel free”, too - [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb\_sb\_noss\_2?url=node%3D2474947011&field-keywords=nickel+free&lo=fashion-mens-accessories&rh=n%3A2474947011%2Ck%3Anickel+free](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=node%3D2474947011&field-keywords=nickel+free&lo=fashion-mens-accessories&rh=n%3A2474947011%2Ck%3Anickel+free) ---
**Author:** ![trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/4 "2015-08-07T23:31:24Z")
The most common metal allergy is to nickel. It causes a red itchy rash where the skin has prolonged contact to nickel, which is in most non-precious metal jewelry, watches and belt buckles. Your sons could try getting something from [here](http://nonickel.com/). There also seem to be options available on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_ex_n_4?rh=n%3A7141123011%2Cn%3A7147441011%2Ck%3Anickel+free&bbn=7141123011&keywords=nickel+free&ie=UTF8&qid=1438990233). A temporary solution is to coat the inside if their belt buckles with clear nail polish. This isn’t permanent, because it tends to wear off, but it might help in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/5 "2015-08-07T23:33:57Z")
As Merneith said, it’s probably a nickel allergy so you can look for belts that don’t have nickel. A suggestion I’ve seen is to use clear nail polish on the part that touches your skin. My sister has a nickel allergy and will sometimes put it on snaps and rivets on her jeans…and sometimes she just says ‘meh’ and makes sure to change out of them when she gets home. I think she also gets annoyed because she has to redo it every few weeks. I think for a lot of those types of allergies it takes a while before it’s an issue. My sister has to be wearing something with nickel for quite a while (hours/days) before she’ll notice a problem. My daughter has problems with nickel earrings, but won’t notice until they’ve been in for several days. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/6 "2015-08-08T01:26:43Z")
Personally I just tuck my undershirt under the beltline and call it fixed, since I’ve found that making sure every single component is allergen free is a right hassle. Even the leather may contain chromates. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/7 "2015-08-08T02:00:34Z")
[Moleskin foot padding](http://www.drscholls.com/productsandbrands/Products/moleskinpluspadding/index.aspx)? You could just cut to shape and stick it on. Generic would probably work fine. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/8 "2015-08-08T02:30:12Z")
There’s a kiosk in several malls near me that has tons of belts. A handful of them have cloth covering on the buckle. I buy and wear those exclusively. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belt-buckle-allergy-ideas/727280/9 "2015-08-08T03:48:12Z")
Get a [mechanics belt](http://www.automotiveworkwear.com/RedKap/AB12BK/belts.html?gclid=CM6A7dnJmMcCFQGVfgodghQOAw). Leather covered buckle. No metal on the outside.