Allergic to your cell phone?

Maybe, according to an unpublished study presented today at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Researchers found that holding a cell phone to your ear all day might trigger allergic reactions from nickel in the phone's buttons.

Allergic reactions to the mineral are common, affecting up to 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men. "Allergists are seeing increasing numbers of nickel allergies among patients," says Dr. Luz Fonacier, an ACAAI fellow from Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y.

"Patients come in with dry, itchy patches on their cheeks, jaw lines and ears and have no idea what is causing their allergic reaction." Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching,  blistering, skin lesions, and sometimes oozing and scarring.

Other common practices that can lead to nickel allergies, according to Dr. Fonacier, include tattoos, body piercing, and some cosmetics. Most allergic reactions from cosmetics stem from fragrances and preservatives.

For cell phones, the best solution could be to avoid skin contact. Try using a plastic film cover, a wireless ear piece, or switching to a phone that does not contain metal on surfaces that contact the skin.

Read more about eczema and treatment options (available to subscribers).