"PlayStation palmar hidradenitis" skin complaint identified

Intense controller gripping said to cause new malady

25 February 2009 10:12 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Following Wiitis, another gaming-related malady has been identified by medical experts, this time a skin complaint.

The newly named condition is dubbed "PlayStation palmar hidradenitis" and has got an official mention in the British Journal of Dermatology.

The research reveals the case of a 12-year-old Swiss girl who suffered from "intensely painful sores" on the palms of her hands.

It seems the girl was suffering from "idiopathic eccrine hidradenitis" a skin disorder causing red, sore lumps on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, usually linked to intense activity and sweating.

Although usually exercise-related, in this case the problem was determined to be caused by "tight and continuous grasping of the console's hand-grips, and repeated pushing of the buttons, alongside sweating caused by the tension of the game".

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists told the BBC: "If you're worried about soreness on your hands when playing a games console, it might be sensible to give your hands a break from time to time, and don't play excessively if your hands are prone to sweating".

Full tags

Gaming, Dad, Sony, PS3, PS2