Cell Phone Allergic Reactions from Nickel and Chromium
Author: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
Published: 2014/05/22 - Updated: 2026/04/28
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Findings
Category Topic: Dermatology - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research reviews the peer-reviewed scientific literature on mobile phone dermatitis affecting both children and adults, drawing on a study led by Jacob Thyssen, MD, PhD, of Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, alongside colleagues at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and the University of Arizona College of Medicine, originally published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. The authors document that many cell phones still release enough nickel and chromium to induce allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), with sensitization rates reaching up to 33% in children, and they outline diagnostic patch testing approaches plus spot testing of the patient's own phone to establish a causal link. The information is particularly useful for clinicians, parents, seniors and people with sensitive skin who experience unexplained rashes on the face, neck, hands, breast or anterior thighs - the body areas most often in contact with handheld devices - Disabled World (DW).
- Topic Definition: Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of the skin that develops when a previously sensitized person comes into repeated contact with a specific allergen, such as the nickel or chromium found in many consumer electronics, jewelry and metal fastenings. The reaction typically appears as red, itchy, swollen or blistered patches on areas of skin that touch the offending material, and in the case of mobile phone dermatitis it most often affects the cheek, jawline, ear, hand or thigh where the device or its accessories rest against the body. Diagnosis is usually confirmed through patch testing performed by a dermatologist, and management centers on identifying and avoiding the trigger metal, often by using a protective case, screen film or hands-free accessory.
Introduction
Despite efforts to control allergen release in phones, many phones on the market release levels of metals, such as nickel and chromium, which are sufficient to induce ACD, according to an article in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Main Content
In the article "Mobile Phone Dermatitis in Children and Adults: A Review of the Literature," a team of researchers led by Jacob Thyssen, MD, PhD, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte (Hellerup, Denmark), Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Loma Linda, CA), and University of Arizona College of Medicine (Phoenix, AZ), review the current literature on mobile phone dermatitis in both children and adults.
Nickel sensitization is common in children, resulting in ACD prevalence levels of up to 33%. This information is important for practitioners, particularly when evaluating patients with dermatitis of the face, neck, hands, breast, or anterior thighs - common places exposed to cell phones.
The authors provide important diagnostic tips for practitioners and strategies to raise awareness of nickel - or chromium-induced mobile phone ACD.
"With the rising use of cell phones and other mobile devices, pediatricians can expect to see additional cases of ACD," says Editor-in-Chief Mary Cataletto, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY) and practicing pediatric pulmonologist at Winthrop University Hospital.
"Thyssen's paper discusses diagnostic patch testing for common metal allergens and the value of spot testing of the patient's phone in establishing a causal relationship."
Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal published in online with Open Access options and in print. The Journal synthesizes the pulmonary, allergy, and immunology communities in the advancement of the respiratory health of children.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Mobile devices have become near-constant companions for most of us, and for a meaningful portion of users that close contact carries a small but real cost in the form of metal-induced skin reactions. The value of this review lies less in raising alarm than in arming clinicians and patients with practical detection tools - patch testing, spot testing of the device itself, and an informed look at where rashes appear on the body. For people who are already managing chronic conditions, sensitive skin or caregiving responsibilities, knowing that a phone case, hands-free kit or simple barrier film can resolve a stubborn dermatitis is a small but genuinely useful piece of clinical knowledge - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News and published on 2014/05/22, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.