Nickel allergy and the iphone 6

I too have a dermatologist confirmed allergy to nickel. It would be very helpful if information was available from Apple on the exact materials used in their products. You should also look for chromate and cobalt as they often are with nickel and cause the same reaction. Nickel is my main concern, but I also have an allergy to chromium which is used in the tanning of leather. Maybe try a different case than leather. In my case, touching nickel anywhere on my body shows a reaction in my hands. Good luck to all of us as this is a serious allergy.

Clearly something is causing you an allergic reaction, however it seems unlikely it's from nickel as there is no nickel on the outside of iPhones. The metal casing of all iPhone 6/6s is made of anodised aluminium (same as for the iPhone 5/5s). No nickel, no paint. There's some plastic covering the antenna lines at top and bottom of the rear of the casing but no nickel.

The fact that you are still having the problem after enclosing the phone in an external case would seem to settle it, it's not the aluminium shell of the iPhone that's the problem, it has to be something on the screen or some chemical outgassing from the phone's interior that you're reacting to (it's pretty common for people with allergies to be sensitive to more than just one thing). I believe Apple do use a chemical coating to reduce fingerprints/smudging on the glass screen of iPhones and iPads, maybe they're using one with a different composition for the 6? That might be what you are reacting to, it would likely get on your fingers as you tap on the screen and could explain your problem if you then transferred the chemical you your face, etc. by touch.

Really, as others have sensibly advised, you need to go see your doctor; it seems likely you are allergic to more than just nickel.

Just like the Apple Watch Sport there is a trace amount of nickel in the iPhone 6 shell and also in the microphone. For most people with nickel allergies this would not represent a problem but for highly sensitive people it could be an issue. They need to find a phone with a plastic shell.

Even if the iPhone 6 shell does contain trace amounts of nickel (and I'd like to see the evidence for this) it cannot explain the OP's experience of still having a reaction after putting the phone in a case - nickel allergies are contact allergies, your skin has to touch the stuff to react (and usually for a sustained period). That's impossible for a phone that's shell is covered by a case (or for nickel in the mic which is inside the phone and will never come into contact with the user's skin). And I don't think you can trigger a nickel reaction by touching it and then touching other parts of your body with your fingers as she describes.

These symptoms indicate that some easily transferred chemical elsewhere on the phone is the culprit, and the oleophobic coating on the screen seems the most likely source -- it's pressed right up against your face when you talk on the phone and some of it may well come off on your fingers when you tap and swipe the screen. Hmm, I wonder. Maybe LoniLin should try using a screen protector film, that might help.

If I had a Nickle allergy then I would not use any phone on the market at present

Pete

People also have allergies to various plastics and resins. Regardless, if I had a problem related to this, I'd contact a doctor, rather than an online technical forum.

Most people hold the front of the iPhone, not the back, towards their face.

The coating doesn't come off, even in trace amounts. If it did it would be gone completely in a few weeks, leaving streaks behind.

The point is if you are having an allergic reaction to ANYTHING you should see an allergist. They are experts at diagnosing all kinds of allergies, unlike the wild guesses that have been posted here.

I have been experiencing terrible reactions to both IPhone 4 and IPhone 6... This is a very real problem. I've had blisters covering my palms and fingers, terrible itching, burning sensations, etc... After holding my phone too long, I need to run my hands under cold water to relieve the burning. Tiny blisters (the size of a pin point) form on my fingers, and then gradually grow outwards, breaking open my skin and causing me to bleed. All this, with a rubber case on my phone. This outrages me. Doctor's don't know what to tell me. I'm disgusted that Apple is putting out harmful products. I hope that they address this and change the metal alloy in the materials of the phone. I would be happy to pay more for a phone that didn't do this to me. Help!

I just got off the phone with Apple Support. They were very receptive to my complaints about metal allergies in IPhone 6. I would call them and share your story. Hopefully we can fix the problem for future Apple products so no one has to be allergic. They have a great team of support staff. We'll see what happens.

EJD2016 wrote:

I have been experiencing terrible reactions to both IPhone 4 and IPhone 6... This is a very real problem. I've had blisters covering my palms and fingers, terrible itching, burning sensations, etc... After holding my phone too long, I need to run my hands under cold water to relieve the burning. Tiny blisters (the size of a pin point) form on my fingers, and then gradually grow outwards, breaking open my skin and causing me to bleed. All this, with a rubber case on my phone. This outrages me. Doctor's don't know what to tell me. I'm disgusted that Apple is putting out harmful products. I hope that they address this and change the metal alloy in the materials of the phone. I would be happy to pay more for a phone that didn't do this to me. Help!

It sounds like you have a rubber allergy. As these can be very serious I strongly suggest seeing an allergist.

I am really really suffering this

People think I am odd

Great to read I am not alone

What did u do

PGTannous wrote:

I am really really suffering this

People think I am odd

Great to read I am not alone

What did u do

1. Go to the doctor.

2. Follow the doctor's advice.

Just been told about Nickle allergy

I am told iPhone 4 & 4s no nickle problems and iPad 3

I have had every iPhone and iPad

And I did sudden notice this few years ago

Some else just mentioned Nickle allergy, I will change my phone to iPhone 4 I hear it is nickle free