Rosacea sufferers sometimes bring up the topic of computer screens and indeed lighting in general as a trigger for their rosacea. Sadly there seems to be little conclusive literature available on this topic.
- A 1985 study in Norway, Does visual display terminal work provoke rosacea? was able to show that rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis sufferers were over represented in the their group of VDT users. They were unable to find whether their usage of computer screens aggravated those symptoms or not.
- A study in 1989, Facial skin complaints and work at visual display units. Epidemiological, clinical and histopathological studies, came to a similar conclusion, also being unable to prove why the VDU users had skin symptoms more often than non VDU users.
- A study in 1990 titled Facial skin complaints and work at visual display units. A histopathological study was unable to find any difference between VDU users and non VDU users when examining for eg. demodex folliculorum, number of mast cells and hyperplasia of sebaceous glands, occurrence of telangiectases, or intensity of inflammatory infiltrate.
It even makes me wonder if long term computer users might need a bit more sunshine to have healthy skin ? This is the trouble with proving this sort of connection, there are so many possible causes that it is difficult to isolate one factor.
This recently published paper, written in Italian, looks like it could be interesting. If you have access this journal online, please feel free to send me a copy.
Sadly, you know that when a researcher ends a paper with the statement that “more research is needed” it usually means that they have very little idea of what is at the root of the problem.
Dermatitis and VDU work, G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2007 Jul-Sep;29(3 Suppl):454-6.,
Dipartimento di Scienze Dermatologiche, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milano.
Skin disorders like rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis, non-specific erythema and acne can be VDU work linked. At present, many environmental and individual causes are involved in the development of these disorders, but the former appear to be the issue to investigate more in depth.
Do you think there is a link?
What about you ? Have you found that lighting or computer use worsens your rosacea ? Have you found strategies to help ?
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8 Comments ↓
Allow me to suggest a possible causal link. These studies were all done before LCDs became common, so the test subjects were all using CRTs.
CRTs, like any TV tube, generate lots of static electricity and will attract dust. When the CRT is on your desk, everything around it becomes charged with static, including YOU. So dust is attracted to your body, including your face. I’ve discussed this problem with hundreds of CRT users, after they complained of eye strain. I told them this story, and suggested it’s dust in their eyes. The solution is to make sure your CRT is kept clean, is well grounded (no cheater plugs and overloaded power strips) and to ground yourself occasionally (touch something metal that’s grounded, like your CPU case) to drain the charge off your body. Most of my clients described less eye irritation after following my advice.
So there’s your possible link. Dust and environmental irritants are attracted to CRT users’ faces, due to stray static electricity charges generated by the CRT. And we all know what environmental irritants do for our rosacea.
Thanks for your thoughts Charles, I haven’t heard many explanations and I had never thought of this before.
davidp.
Has there been anymore progress on this issue? I have severe redness, burning, tingling and facial dryness in workplace and trying to find answers. Any info appreciated.
Have noticed increased flushing, stinging and burning of my rosacea when I’m in front of a computer screen for more than 30 minutes. Have no idea why this happens. Only remedy is to get up and walk around for a few minutes! I wish someone would investigate this further and maybe come up with a cure.
I’ve noticed the same after using my lap top- my face feels like its burning and its bright red – it takes a good while to settle after moving away from the screen. If anyone has any suggestions (other than not using my lap top !!) I would be very grateful.
I think research should be funded on the effects of computer screen exposure on the long term. Personnally, I feel a difference with my rosacea when I’m in front of the computer screen for more than 2 hours. I feel less sympton with the new generation of LED diplays.
I definitely have a flare-up when I am in front of the computer screen for more than 30 mins. I also have a flare-up if I talk on the phone for too long. Something in the receiver.
Yea, I suspended using the computer for three month, and it descended.
the hotness of the LCD screens , for 18 hours perday was the reason .