Sarasota Dermatology Blog

Cell Phones Can Cause a Rash

Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Bradley J. Abrams, D.O..

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Could your cell phone be causing that facial skin rash? The answer may be yes– and the culprit may be the nickel content in the fashionable design of many cell phones.

Nickel is a familiar allergen that afflicts anywhere from 17% to 33% of the population with a red itchy rash doctors call Contact Dermatitis.

People with a nickel allergy may take steps to avoid skin contact with products that contain nickel, which is found in some jewelry.

But whether you know you have an allergy to nickel or not, you may not suspect the design on the front of your cell phone. Studies have shown many cell phones use nickel for their metallic highlights such as the brand logos, decorative accents, and even the buttons on the front of the phone.

As a result there has been an increase in the prevalence of facial skin rashes associated with these cell phones.