Clinical Observation of Cellular Phone Dermatitis in Korea

Kim, Beom Joon; Li, Kapsok; Woo, Seung Man; Cho, Wan Ik; Cho, So Yun; Kim, Myeung Nam; Ro, Byung In; Eun, Hee Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, the use of cellular phones has greatly increased, and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) ascribed to the use of cellular phones has been one of the problems.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics of allergic contact dermatitis due to cellular phone use.
METHODS
Three male and 7 female patients who were diagnosed as ACD due to cellular phone use were evaluated. A patch test was performed on the upper back and any history of metal allergy was checked. We also evaluated the content of nickel in the cellular phones currently being sold on the market, using a dimethylglyoxime spot test.
RESULTS
The results of this study are summarized as follows; There was female predominance in cellular phone dermatitis with an average onset of age 27.4 years old. A history of metal allergy was found in 40.0% of the patients. The most common site and mobile phone type were cheek (60.0%) and slider type (60.0%), respectively. In addition to erythematous patches, itching was accompanied in 60.0% of the patients. But the other patients did not report any pruritus at all. Except in three cases, patch tests were performed on the upper back. Five patients were positive to nickel and 4 patients were positive to chrome. The dimethylglyoxime test showed 21.2% positivity in 104 cellular phones of 27 different models.
CONCLUSION
Cellular phone dermatitis usually occurs on both cheeks, or the dominant hand-sided cheek area. The causative metals are mostly nickle and chrome.