People can come into contact through electronics, machinery and coins. It is an excellent conductor of electricity, so is used frequently in lots of different types of wiring. It is used as part of an alloy for coins and some jewellery. Some intrauterine contraception devices (IUD) are made from copper, there have been some case studies of these occasionally causing allergic reactions.

You can be allergic to copper only, or as part of a larger issue with allergies to other metals, most commonly nickel and cobalt.

An allergy to metals will generally cause allergic contact dermatitis. Symptoms of this include red, flaky or itchy skin and/or blistering or swelling of the skin.

Copper can be consumed in contaminated food or water and is safe to eat in small doses, it only starts to cause problems if you drink frequently from contaminated water sources. The side effects of consuming too much copper is not an allergy as you can purify your water and any symptoms will ease.

Copper allergy is associated with allergic contact dermatitis.

The most common cross reactivity seen with copper allergy is allergic contact dermatitis from cobalt and nickel.

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