Facial Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by Mobile Phone

Figure 1:  Mobile phone dermatitis in the right jaw line.

Patch testing was performed with the Brazilian base line series. Finn Chambers (8mm) were used. The patch tests were applied to the upper back and occluded for 2 days. Readings were performed on day 3 and day 5. Positive test reactions were observed to thiuram mix, thimerosal, nickel sulfate, p-phenylenediamine and neomycin with p-phenylenediamine. The nickel sulfate test was considered strong positive. The cobalt test was negative. Nickel sulfate were found in the product. The patients was treated with a 10 days course, two times a day, of medium potency topical corticosteroid, and changed immediately her cell phone, with resulted in rapid clearance of the dermatitis, without return.

Discussion

This case report illustrates that technology gadgets can produce allergic contact dermatitis. The allergy results from frequent skin contact with nickel-containing objects [1]. Prolonged or repetitive contact with a nickel-containing phone is more likely to cause a skin reaction in those who are allergic to nickel. Nearly half of the phones we spot tested contained some free nickel. The menu buttons, decorative logos on the headsets and the metallic frames around the liquid crystal display (LCD) screens were the most common sites [2- 5]. In this case the central button is metallic and was the source of nickel (Figure 2). Nickel allergy affects up to 17% of women and 3% of men, and is the most common cause of contact sensitization, both in the general population and in dermatitis patients [6,7].

Figure 2:  Mobile phone with nickel-containing objects.