What The Heck Is Mobile Phone Dermatitis?

The British Association of Dermatologists has identified an allergic skin disorder they have dubbed "mobile phone dermatitis." The ailment causes a rash due to an allergic reaction to the phone's nickel surface, particularly in cell casings and buttons.

"Prolonged or repetitive contact with a nickel-containing phone is more likely to cause a skin reaction in those who are allergic," said Dr. Graham Lowe from the British Association of Dermatologists, one of the authors of the study. "If you have had a previous reaction to a nickel-coated belt buckle or jewelry, for example, you are at greater risk of reacting to metal phones."

The research also found that women have a higher risk of developing mobile phone dermatitis since they are more likely to have been previously sensitized to the metal following an allergic reaction to nickel-coated jewelry.

"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," Lowe said. "In theory, it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons."

The association said that since the condition has only newly been identified, many cases may go unreported or untreated, which prompted the scientists to report their findings.

The new research drew information from earlier studies concerning patients with unexplained rashes on their face and ear. One of those articles was from Dr. Lionel Bercovitch of Brown University in Rhode Island, and appeared in the Jan. 1, 2008, issue of The Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Bercovitch and other Brown University researchers tested for nickel in 22 popular handsets from eight different manufacturers and a Bluetooth headset, and found it present in 10 of the models.

"Nearly half of the phones we spot-tested contained some free nickel," Bercovitch said. "The menu buttons, decorative logos on the headsets and the metallic frames around the liquid crystal display (LCD) screens were the most common sites."

According to the results of Bercovitch's tests, the following phone models did not contain nickel: BlackBerry Pearl, Kyocera KX444, LG Verizon VX8300, Motorola i580, Motorola i870, Nokia 6061, Nokia 6062, Nokia 6820, Nokia 6230, Nokia 6682, Palm Treo 650, SonyZ520a, Bluetooth headset, Plantronics Explorer 320 model.

The following cell models found to contain nickel in the headset (decorative logo): Motorola L2, Motorola Rzr, Motorola SLVR and Motorola Q.

Cell phones that contained nickel elsewhere on their models were: BlackBerry 8700c (speakerphone, on the back of the phone); Samsung e150 (metal around the screen and menu button); Samsung d807, menu button; Sony Ericsson W600i, menu button; Sony Ericsson, W810i; menu button; and Sony Ericsson T610, handset, if the paint is chipped.