Beware! Mobile phone may cause skin allergy

LONDON, UK: Once again there is a warning bell for the mobile phone freaks from the doctors. According to recent medical studies, excessive use of mobile phone may cause a rash to develop on your face and ears.

Known as "mobile phone dermatitis", this skin allergy affects those who develop an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobile phones, said British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) in a statement released on Thursday. Nickel is often found in the handset casing or buttons.

The association asked the skin specialists to take this aspect into account while treating the unexplained red or itchy rashes on cheeks or ears.

Many medical practitioners are unaware of this new health risk of mobile phone use and hence it is under reported, the BAD statement said.

 "In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear, depending on where the metal part of the phone comes into contact with the skin," it said, adding,

"In theory it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons." According to Dr. Graham Lowe of BAD, "If you have had a previous reaction to a nickel-coated belt buckle or jewelry, for example, you are at greater risk of reacting to metal phones."

A study published in the US earlier this year had also said that, out of the 22 handsets from popular brands it tested, 10 had free nickel content in them.

It was recently reported in the 'Journal of Fertility and Sterility' that those men who keep their cellphones in pockets and belts while talking on hands-free are at risk of fertility.