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Lengthy chats could bring phone users out in a rash
People who use their mobile phones for long periods of time could develop an allergic skin rash.
The British Association of Dermatologists says people may develop rashes on the cheek or ear due to the nickel contained in some mobile phones.
The issue came to light after several reports of patients with unexplained skin disorders.
Experts found that the reaction was caused by nickel in the casing or on the buttons of some mobile phones.
The association said doctors and the public should be aware of the risk, with cases estimated to be on the rise.
People with a known reaction to nickel – a metal also used in jewellery – are thought to be most at risk.
Reports of several cases have been published in medical journals including the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and the British Journal of Dermatology.
Dr Graham Lowe, from the British Association of Dermatologists, dubbed the condition "mobile phone dermatitis".
He said: "The allergy results from frequent skin contact with nickel-containing objects. Prolonged or repetitive contact with a nickel-containing phone is more likely to cause a skin reaction in those who are allergic.
"If you have had a previous reaction to a nickel-coated belt-buckle or jewellery, for example, you are at greater risk of reacting to metal phones."
Doctors in the United States tested for nickel in 22 handsets from eight different manufacturers for a study published earlier this year. They found nickel in 10 of them.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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