Mobile phones and their accessories may contain sufficient amounts of allergens such as nickel, chromium and cobalt to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), reveals an online literature review.
The review, led by Dr. Jacob Thyssen of Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark, showed that cases of mobile phone ACD have been reported since 2000. ACD is a type IV T-cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction that causes intense pruritus when the skin is in contact with a specific allergen.
There are multiple allergens than can cause ACD, including latex, metal compounds, plants, cosmetics and industrial agents. Specific allergens that have been identified as causes of mobile phone ACD are nickel, chromium, iridium, cobalt and plastics/glues. Twenty-seven of the 35 cases studied in the online literature review identified nickel as an allergen, making it the most common allergen for mobile phone ACD. [Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol 2014; doi:10.1089/ped.2013.0308]
This eczematous dermatitis has been known to appear in places that are commonly exposed to mobile phones such as the face (especially periauricular and cheek), flanks, extremities and lower abdomen. When evaluating a patient with eczematous dermatitis and a known history of metal allergy, patch testing for common metal allergens and spot testing of the patient’s phone will help to confirm the diagnosis of nickel- or chromium-induced mobile phone ACD.
Four studies conducted between 2008 and 2011, which evaluated nickel and cobalt release from mobile phones, showed excessive nickel release in 18 to 45.5 percent of tested phones. [Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol 2014; doi:10.1089/ped.2013.0308] Chromium, which is used on the cover and keypad of some mobile phones, was also proven to trigger mobile phone dermatitis in some patients.
Tests to screen consumer items for metal release are uncommon. Due to that, and the lack of rules and regulations, many phones that release levels of metals sufficient to induce ACD are still sold and used.
Statistics show that the occurrence of mobile phone dermatitis increased by 1,250 percent from 2000 to 2010. [Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol 2014; doi:10.1089/ped.2013.0308] This increase is associated with a surge in the usage of mobile phones as their functions increase and prices decrease.
The International Telecommunication Union estimated that 8.5 percent of people globally had a mobile broadband subscription in 2011, and the figure is expected to increase over the years.
Today, when many children and most adults own mobile phones, healthcare providers should be more aware of the increasing risk and add mobile phone dermatitis to their list of differentials.
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