Radiation Effects of Mobile Phones and Tablets on the Skin: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Skin health has become a worldwide concern. Most of the studies investigated the effect of mobile phone radiation on DNA and animals, but a few studies were carried out about skin diseases in mobile phone and tablet users. Few systematic studies have examined the relationship between mobile phone exposure and skin diseases. Methods We evaluated the association between mobile phones and tablets and skin diseases. We checked databases including PubMed, Scopus, Springer, Cochrane, and Google Scholar from 1995 to 2013. The eligibility criteria were descriptive, and observational studies were in English and Persian language, and the subjects were of all ages and reported skin disease. Results Most of the studies focused on signs and less on skin cancer. In total, 6 studies were included with 392119 participants with age over 25 years. In a nationwide cohort study in Denmark for BCC, the IRR (incidence rate ratios) estimates remained near unity among men and women. In the other studies, they reported an increase in temperature, hypersensitivity of warmth, facial dermatitis, angiosarcoma of the scalp, and burning sensations in the facial skin after mobile phone use on the exposed side and more within the auricle and behind/around the ear. Conclusions Overall evaluations showed that the level of evidence associated with the effects of radiation from the mobile phone and tablet on the skin is poor. This review shows a necessity for more studies in this area.

Variation of biophysical parameters of the skin with age, gender, and lifestyles

“…A few studies were carried out, but no strong evidence associated with the effects of radiation from electronic products on the skin. 45 Our research showed the sebum content of using electronic products more than six hours was higher, and skin surface pH was lower than the other two groups. The date from our research showed using electronic products over 6 hours a day or staying up late causes a decrease in skin pH.…”

“…With the increasing variety of electronic products and the increasing time for people to use electronic products, more and more people are worried about whether the radiation from electronic products such as smartphones, tablets, and computers will affect our health, especially the skin, which is directly exposed to radiation. A few studies were carried out, but no strong evidence associated with the effects of radiation from electronic products on the skin 45 . Our research showed the sebum content of using electronic products more than six hours was higher, and skin surface pH was lower than the other two groups.…”

Reduction of 5G cellular network radiation in wireless mobile phone using an asymmetric square shaped passive metamaterial design

“…Firstly, the MATLAB coding calculates the impedance and refractive index values of the proposed metamaterial design by utilising the Eqs. (1) and (2), where the signs ′ and ″ described real and imaginary, respectively. Meanwhile, the permittivity and permeability values were directly calculated from Eqs.…”

“…Although the 5G network has been highly recommended to comply with current technological advances, it possesses several disadvantages. The radiation exposure from the mobile phone may cause serious health problems such as skin disease, brain tumour, heart disease, irregular blood pressure, sleep disorder, or even cancer [1][2][3][4] . Based on the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the IEEE C95.1-2019 standards, the SAR limit is set to 2 W/kg for the averaged over 10 g of tissue volume 5,6 .…”

Response to the issues raised about other aspects of mobile phone use that we might have considered while conducting our study entitled: “Factors associated with mental health among high school students in Iran: Does mobile phone overuse associate with poor mental health?”

“…In response to the second issue noted for our study "ignoring the importance of collecting data about using mobile phones in 'standby mode' and 'hands free'," we should accept that lots of variables may be associated to MP use among adolescents. Considering that the current evidence found from systematic/nonsystematic reviews (Karger, 2005, Keykhosravi, Neamatshahi, Mahmoodi, & Navipour, 2018, Moussa, 2011, Roosli, Frei, Mohler, & Hug, 2010 do not provide a consistent pattern that exposure to MPs is hazardous to health, we presumed that using MPs in the "standby mode" and applying "hands free" may not be the case when investigating the associations between MP overuse and mental health. Further research, however, is suggested with considerations on such variables, with the hope to find more rigorous findings.…”