An 11-year-old San Diego boy was recently found to have formed an itchy body rash through his use of an Apple iPad, Monday's issue of the journal Pediatrics reported. The popular tablet is reportedly a potential source of causing nickel allergy reactions

The startling discovery was made while the unidentified boy was being treated at Rady Children's Hospital for a common skin condition that causes scaly patches, but then started developing a different rash all over his body that failed to respond to usual treatment, the Associated Press reported. Upon conducting a few skin tests, he tested positive in a skin patch test for nickel allergy.

At an avoidance counseling session later, doctors became aware that the family had bought a first-generation iPad in 2010, with the patient making use of it more frequently, Fox News reported. A chemical compound found in nickel was located in the iPad's outside coating.

After covering his iPad and avoiding nickel, including through diet, the dermatitis improved significantly for five months, Jacob of Loma Linda University in California and Dr. Shehla Admani of the dermatology department at the University of California, San Diego, said.

Nickel rashes aren't life-threatening but they can be very uncomfortable, and they may require treatment with steroids and antibiotics if the skin eruptions become infected, said Dr. Sharon Jacob, a dermatologist at Rady Children's Hospital, adding that the young patient had to miss school because of the rash.

Dermatologists claim that allergic contact dermatitis is becoming more common in children from a variety of personal electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones, the Associated Press reported. "Nickel rashes also have been traced to other common products including some jewelry, eyeglass frames and zippers. Evidence suggests nickel allergies are become more common, or increasingly recognized, Jacob said. She cited national data showing that about 25 percent of children who get skin tests for allergies have nickel allergies, versus about 17 percent a decade ago."

It is not clear whether all iPad models and other Apple devices contain nickel, with Apple spokesman Chris Gaither declining to make comments.