The source of a rash may be an unlikely source – an iPad. KRMG reports that an 11-year-old boy in San Diego, California, was recently treated at a hospital for an itchy body rash caused by a nickel allergy. The iPad, a popular tablet, may contain nickel, which is a common cause of metal-induced allergies.

According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, there have been recent reports in medical journals detail nickel allergies from a variety of personal electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones. However, the Apple iPad is the one that caused the rash that sent the young boy to the hospital. The boy is fine now, but did have to miss school because of the reaction.

Fortunately, nickel rashes are not life-threatening but they can be very uncomfortable. They may also require treatment with steroids and antibiotics if the skin eruptions become infected. There is some evidence to indicate that nickel allergies have become more common, with about 25 percent of children showing an allergy in skin tests, up from 17 percent a decade ago. The San Diego boy had a common skin condition that causes scaly patches, but he developed a different rash all over his body that did not respond to usual treatment.

The doctors then conducted skin testing, which showed he had a nickel allergy. After testing the device, the medical team found a chemical compound derived from nickel in the coating of the iPad. Doctors traced the allergic reaction to the iPad his family had bought in 2010. At the time, Apple has not commented and it is unclear whether nickel is found in all of their products.