We’ve all heard of the dangerous reactions to peanuts and bee stings that children can suffer. Now, there are a series of potential new allergens for children. As they get exposed to more and more un-tested or adult items, their newly developing immune systems are getting taxed.

Be cautious of the following allergens:

• Cell phones. Cell phone rash is a new condition that is usually caused by the nickel in many phone face plates and phone bodies. Symptoms include red, itchy skin where the phone is pressed to the face or on the tips of the fingers. The parts with the most nickel are the menu buttons, and the metal frames around the liquid crystal display (LCD) screens.



• Scents in shampoos and soaps can cause respiratory allergies or skin rashes and eczema.



• Temporary Tattoos share a pigment that is used in hair dye. A reaction can occur from the tattoo itself or the groundwork may simply be laid for the child to have a reaction years later should s/he use hair dye.



• Nickel allergies are common in children, especially girls who are frequently exposed after they get their ears pierced. Physicians recommend that children wait until age 10 to get ears pierced or use only silver or gold jewelry. Nickel can also be found in zippers, snaps on clothing, belt buckles, eye glass frames.

There are many more substances that children are being exposed to now that did not even exist in the recent past. Using caution in introducing new products to children is always prudent.