Mobile phone dermatitis caused by nickel in cell phones

For years, we've been told cell phones harbor more bacteria than a toilet, but nickel might actually be the reason people suffer from "mobile phone dermatitis." The British Association of Dermatologists has issued a warning to doctors regarding skin allergies caused by too much contact with mobile phones. They believe many doctors are unaware of the condition, so they're asking them to bear this in mind when they see patients with unexplained rashes on their face or hands.

These rashes are pretty noticeable on the ear or cheek area and include red or itchy skin that develops in people who have an allergic reaction to nickel surfaces. Heavy texters may also see a rash on their fingers if they spend too much time pressing nickel-based buttons. Apparently, several universities tested a few popular handsets for nickel and found that 10 out of 22 devices had it.

Currently, there's no easy way to know whether your phone has nickel or if you're allergic to it unless you go to a doctor, but if you tend to develop minor rashes on the places mentioned above, there's a good chance you're allergic. At this point, the best thing you can do is use a hands-free headset (the Jawbone 2 has medical grade plastic inside), or switch to a phone with a glass surface like the iPhone.

Link: Doctors warn of rash from mobile phone use

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