As more and more people rely on their mobile phones, allergists are seeing a rise in face rashes triggered by the nickel in the phone's buttons.

New research was presented on November 15 at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Phoenix, Arizona.

Allergic reactions to nickel are common, affecting up to 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men, and can be triggered by nickel in earrings, body piercings, eyeglass frames, and watchbands. "Allergists are seeing increasing numbers of nickel allergy among patients," said Dr. Luz Fonacier, an ACAAI fellow from New York, in a statement.