Monitor rash update

[Guest guest]

Some of you may recall that I started posting about two weeks ago, in

search of a solution for the temporary cheek

redness/inflammation/itching whenever I worked more than an hour at

my computer. After sharing some posts with others and doing some

reading, I joined the hypothesis that the cause was static

electricity drawing microscopic dust particles to my face while I was

sitting at the computer, dropping off as soon as I left the

computer's static electric field.

Then a librarian here commented on the low humidity at her workplace,

and with that I did some further readings. It turns out that low

humidity encourages the development of a static electric field around

some objects, such as computer monitors. Rooms with central air can

get as dry as 10% humidity, I've read; humidity at or above 60% is

not normally associated with static electricity. Typically, the

warmer a room heated with central air, the lower the humidity.

I've been impresssed how, over the past week, my face is no longer

flaring from my monitor. And I haven't done a thing to my computer or

monitor -- no filter, no clip, no anti-static cleaner or wipes. All

I've done is be attentive to the humidity level in the room, by

turning down the heat, and using any excuse to set a pot of water on

the stove to boil for as long as possible.

It's possible to partially interrupt the static electricity by

grounding the unit (the clip or plug-in that accompanies many

filters) but discouraging the field to develop in the first place, by

striving for a room humidity around 60%, may be a better solution --

and save money besides, with a lower electric bill.

I'm going to wait a few more weeks before I declare the problem

solved -- my rosacea has fooled me before! But I'm so surprised

the solution to my monitor problem has been this seemingly simple. I

VERY much appreciate this group's contribution in helping solve my

problem (knock on wood that the problem is solved ).

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

[Guest guest]

I have been running a humidifier in my room for the past month, which

completely concidentally is only about 3 feet away from my comp. I haven't

noticed any difference in my flushing to the monitor, its still one of my

worst triggers at the moment (which by the way only happened after starting

photoderm... i'm sure there's a connection in my case). So I don't think

the humidity is the problem for me... maybe its another one of those works

for some but not for others deals?

[Guest guest]

I have been running a humidifier in my room for the past month, which

completely concidentally is only about 3 feet away from my comp. I haven't

noticed any difference in my flushing to the monitor, its still one of my

worst triggers at the moment (which by the way only happened after starting

photoderm... i'm sure there's a connection in my case). So I don't think

the humidity is the problem for me... maybe its another one of those works

for some but not for others deals?

[Guest guest]

The humidity isn't a problem for me either, since I keep a humidfier

on nearly all the time. When I lived on the east coast, in the

summer humidity, I still had the same flared skin problems with the

computer, so its not a seasonal thing, and my skin isn't particularly

dry. Keeping my skin covered (sunscreen,light dusting of Jane

Iredale) seems to work best.

For those with humidity-computer problems, perhaps, the electrostatic

dust is exerbating dry skin (?), just a thought.

GT

[Guest guest]

The humidity isn't a problem for me either, since I keep a humidfier

on nearly all the time. When I lived on the east coast, in the

summer humidity, I still had the same flared skin problems with the

computer, so its not a seasonal thing, and my skin isn't particularly

dry. Keeping my skin covered (sunscreen,light dusting of Jane

Iredale) seems to work best.

For those with humidity-computer problems, perhaps, the electrostatic

dust is exerbating dry skin (?), just a thought.

GT