Reader Q: “I often put my phone in my bra when I’m working out. Is that dangerous?”
Sometimes there’s just no good place to keep a cell phone when you’re at the gym. But when it comes to cancer risks, don’t fret: Experts say there is no data to suggest a link between cell phone use and breast cancer, no matter where you stow your device. (Some controversy does remain about a link between cell phone use and brain cancer, but there are also no definitive studies that clarify this issue.)
But keeping your phone in your bra while you exercise can create other unexpected problems. “We know that mobile phones may harbor several species of bacteria, and irritated or macerated skin (which can occur in sweaty areas prone to friction, like the area under a sports bra) is very susceptible to bacterial infections such as staphylococcus and streptococcus,” notes Lauren Ploch, M.D., a dermatologist in Augusta, GA. If you don’t have a pocket in which to put your phone, try stowing it on an armband or waist belt to help protect your skin while you work up a sweat.
