A warning has been issued that the use of nickel in mobile phone casings could lead to a rise in dermatitis complaints. The Australasian Journal of Dermatology reported the story of a 39-year-old man who presented with a 6-month history of a treatment-resistant facial dermatitis.

The patient regularly used his mobile phone, predominantly on the left cheek. Patch testing confirmed the clinical suspicion of mobile phone contact dermatitis from nickel contained in the phone casing.

Although infrequently reported, with the trend towards metallic mobile phone casings and the high incidence of nickel sensitisation in the community, the Journal said that the incidence of mobile phone contact dermatitis is likely to increase.

First published in January 2010

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