Using glitterless cell phone

Cell phone users who spend a lot of time on their mobiles may develop a skin rash if nickel is present on their phones, warns the British Association of Dermatologists.

The group has dubbed the skin condition mobile phone dermatitis.

Allergy to nickel is common. Many women may have developed sensitivity to nickel because it is present in some jewelry and also used extensively in belt buckles and watch bands. Nickel allergy is the most common cause of contact dermatitis in the more developed countries, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the UK, it is estimated that 30 percent of the population have contact allergy.

People sensitive to nickel may develop rashes on their ear or the cheek if they talk a lot on cell phones with nickel. The rash may also emerge on the fingers of those who use the keyboard a lot to send text messages.

Those who have had previous allergic reactions to nickel-coated accessories (as belt buckles and jewelry) are more at risk of reacting to metallic phones.

The association to cell phones has been established in many published case reports of people suffering from unexplained rashes appearing on their face, cheeks and ear. Upon closer investigation, dermatologists found it was nickel on the handsets responsible for the rashes. Nickel is used to coat the surface of phone casings and buttons on the most fashionable models.

Not all phones use nickel. A U.S. researcher at Brown University in Rhode Island published a study in January this year which found that of 22 popular handsets tested, only 10 units contained nickel.

The metal was usually found on menu buttons, decorative logos, and the frames surrounding the LCD screens. Frequent skin contact with these parts results in the allergic reaction. The symptoms may be as mild as some redness on the affected patch of skin, or the obvious rash, or even as bad as blisters.

The condition may be vastly underreported. According to the dermatologists, people who suffer from nickel allergy may believe they are having facial eczema. Considering the almost ubiquitous use of cell phones, it is highly likely that the condition is much more common than people think. However, it is not widely recognized and people may not bother to consult their doctors about it.

Safety Tips:

* Seek advice from your doctor when a rash develops on your face for no apparent reason, especially if you use your cell phone extensively.

* Consider using cell phones without the glitter of nickel. Some phones have rubber coating and do not use surface nickel. But these are designed for more rugged use and may not be as fashionable as other popular models.