Abstract
Since 1985, there has been a debate in the Swedish mass media concerning whether health may be adversely affected by work with visual display units (VDUs). Serious skin damage has been claimed to result from such exposure. More than 300 patients have been referred to our clinic with suspected VDU-related skin disease. The first 100 cases have been reported previously. One hundred eighty-three referred from April 1987 to June 1989 are presented: 153 patients were examined, and 81 received pharmacological treatment appropriate to their diagnoses. Rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis, and acne were the most frequent diagnoses. Twenty of 37 patients who were patch tested showed positive reactions. Thirty-nine patients had no visible dermal affection. Three patients with severe facial dermatitis resulting from contact allergy are reported in detail. No specific clinical picture associated with VDU work was found. This and other studies reported provide no support for the hypothesis that VDUs cause skin disease. We conclude that patients, partly influenced by the mass media, wrongly blame the VDU for their skin symptoms.
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