Are You Afflicted By Cell Phone Rash?
Posted October 16, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
They’ve become so ubiquitous that it’s hard to imagine a world without them.
But the overwhelming presence of cellular telephones is hardly problem-free – the items have been linked to cancer in studies for years and more recently, to skin irritations that doctors were having problems identifying the source of.
But new information courtesy of the British Association of Dermatologists suggests cell phones could be leading to previously unexplained rashes on the ears and cheeks of certain users, especially those who spend a lot of time with the portable devices stuck to the sides of their face.
Citing published studies the group said a red or itchy rash, known as “mobile phone dermatitis,” affects people who develop an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobiles.
“It is worth doctors bearing this condition in mind if they see a patient with a rash on the cheek or ear that cannot otherwise be explained,” it said.
Part of the problem, according to the authors, is that many doctors were unaware mobile phones could cause the condition.
The links to cancer, particularly of the brain, have never been proven with regards to cell phones, but safety concerns over mobile phones have grown as more people rely on them for everyday communication.
“In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear, depending on where the metal part of the phone comes into contact with the skin,” the group said in a statement.
“In theory it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons.”
Nickel is a metal found in products, ranging from phones to jewelry to belt buckles and is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Earlier in 2008, a study from Brown University tested 22 popular cell phone handsets and found nickel in 10 of them.
For information on how to treat dermatitis, click here.
