Mobile Phone Dermatitis

The cell phone was recently noted for its twenty fifth year of service to the public. Cell phones are everywhere and one does not have to wait too long before hearing a cell phone conversation of a stranger, a distracting ring tone abruptly interrupting your thoughts or observing a motorist erratically driving as he converses on his cell phone. At public events, it is not at all uncommon for a printed announcement or verbal request to be made asking that you turn off your cell phone during a performance. For better or for worse, the cell phone is here to stay and it does have its redeeming qualities. Its influence is worldwide and in the United States it's almost as American as "apple pie" to own a cell phone.

While it is evident that the cell phone is a useful and often necessary device, it has been noted by researchers that the cell phone could be the culprit in the appearance of a rash that appears on your ear, cheek and fingers or wherever the phone touches your skin. According to a recent study by the British Association of Dermatologists authored by Dr. Graham Lowe and others, an allergic skin disorder known as mobile phone dermatitis has been discovered. If you have noticed a persistent rash on your cheek, ear and fingers and the condition has not responded to treatment and you are a cell phone user, researchers recommend that your physician explore the possibility that your condition may be diagnosed as mobile phone dermatitis after common allergies, medication reactions and other possible causes have been eliminated. The symptoms of mobile phone dermatitis result from consistent and sustained contact with cell phones manufactured with nickel in the outer casing or in its buttons. Mobile phone dermatitis is more apt to occur in individuals who are allergic to the nickel and researchers state that women are more prone to developing mobile phone dermatitis because they may have been sensitized to the metal after experiencing allergic reactions to nickel coated jewelry. Individuals who talk for long periods on the cell phone may notice a rash or experience an itchy feeling on their fingers if they frequently use the texting feature of the cell phone.

The information from this study is worth noting by both physicians and patients. The research findings are not yet well known and are being publicized and disseminated through the media. If you are a frequent cell phone user and have experienced a rash especially on your cheeks, ears and fingers with no apparent origin, consult with your physician to rule out mobile phone dermatitis.

In January 2008 Mr. Lionel Bercovitch of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, along with his colleagues conducted testing on twenty two popular handsets and found nickel present in ten of the phones from eight manufacturers. The Brown University researchers listed phone models that did not contain nickel and included the Blackberry Pearl, Bluetooth headset, Palm Treo 650, Motorola i580 to name a few. Mr. Bercovitch reports that almost half of the randomly selected tested phones had nickel around the menu buttons and the frame around the display screen as well as its logos.

So, user beware. Keep your cell phone but know that talking may be hazardous to your health but thankfully not in a life threatening way. The remedy for mobile phone dermatitis may be as simple as buying a" nickel-less" cell phone model.

Moral of the story: Do not overlook mobile phone dermatitis as the cause of that annoying persistent redness on your cheek, ear or fingers.