Friday, October 8, 2010

Toasted skin syndrome latest hazard linked to notebook usage

The most recent danger through extreme notebook use to emerge is something called “toasted skin syndrome”. Toasted skin syndrome, a condition typically suffered by foundry workers or glass blowers, is mottled discoloration brought on by prolonged exposure to temperature. A young boy who was diagnosed with fried skin syndrome after habitual video gaming on a notebook drew headlines and warnings the condition could possibly lead to certain skin cancers.

Toasted skin syndrome from laptops

Toasted skin syndrome is something that happens to people who have laptops. The notebooks are put on a user’s thighs for an extended period of time. In a recent case, CBS News accounts that a 12-year-old boy came to his doctor with “sponge-patterned” skin on his left thigh. For months at a time he would spend time playing computer games for a couple of hrs every day. Another person got mottled skin on her leg as a student. Dr. Kimberley Salkey said that the student had gotten fried skin syndrome because she studied for 6 hrs a day with a computer on her lap the whole time. The temperature under the laptop was measured at 125 degrees.

Skin cancer develops with too much notebook use

Until now, toasted skin syndrome was documented in workers who toil around intense heat. If you were to take a look at the damaged skin under a microscope, states Salkey, it would look like intense sun exposure, reports the Associated Press. Heating pads that don’t burn however are used too often can cause toasted skin syndrome also. There hasn’t been anything to suggest it was harmless before. The skin just got humorous colored. However, Swiss researchers who published an article about toasted skin syndrome in the medical journal Pediatrics said the condition can trigger damage that leads to skin cancers.

Anticipated to get a laptop heat safeguard

The Swiss researchers did not discuss any specific cases in the Pediatrics article of skin cancer. There weren’t any real incidents discussed. But they suggested placing a carrying case or something else to act as a laptop heat shield. You will find generally warning signs from major computer makers that tell you it gets very hot. It explains surely it is a heat generated notebook and to be careful. Yahoo News published this report. The Associated Press explains that within the report, it points out that 1 in 10 cases in medical journals since 2004 talks about fried skin syndrome. One of these was about how scrotum temperatures being too high can lead to a decreased sperm production.

Info from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com

PC World

pcworld.com

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018447-10391704.html

Pediatrics

pediatrics.aappublications.org/

Yahoo News

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101004/ap_on_hi_te/us_laptop_toasted_skin



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