Allergic to your Cell Phone?

When you think about cell phones, what comes to mind? Texting, perhaps, the iphone, or even radiation. But an allergic reaction? In the past few years, scientists have been finding rashes on the faces of teenagers and adults, along the jawline. The cause of these rashes was a mystery, until recently. The New York Times released an article this Tuesday, which linked the rash toNickel found in cell phone casing.

According to Web MD, "A nickel allergy is a skin reaction that develops after exposure to nickel or items containing the metal." This essentially means that a nickel allergy is caused by touching or wearing nickel for a long period of time. In America, 3% of men have this allergy and 20% of women. This is because many items of jewelry contain nickel. Therefore, the jewelry wearers are more exposed to the nickel. This is the same process that occurs with cell phone users. However, with a cell phone user it is called, "Contact dermatitis with a Nickel allergy". If a person is constantly talking on their cell phone, the face can become hypersensitive to nickel. This hypersensitivity becomes an allergy.

A nickel allergy has several, rather similar, symptoms. The most common are:

• A rash where the nickel has touched the skin
• Itching
• Red areas of skin
• Dry areas of skin (these can look like burns)
• Blisters

This allergy can come from other objects as well. Some examples are watchbands, zippers, belt buckles, hairpin, dental fillings, prosthetics, and even the frames of glasses. People with severe nickel allergies must limit their contact with some of these objects, and avoid eating oatmeal, chocolate, nuts, beans and dried fruit; which contain small amount of nickel. 

However, it is possible to treat this allergy. Doctors recommend using steroid creams, such as cortisone, and preventing any further contact by using a headset.

Link to a brief Masher video summarizing the cell phone issue:
http://www.masher.com/player.jsp?key=0dbe76c7-a2bc-cb73-63d8-0000effb001b&adscheme=0

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/health/23really.html?_r=1&ref=health
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/nickel-jewelry-allergy
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/645796.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nickel-allergy/DS00826/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/178/1/23
http://allergies.about.com/b/2008/10/16/mobile-phone-allergy.htm
http://preparednesspro.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/person-on-cell-phone.jpg