title: Skin conditions in instrumental musicians: a self-reported survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Instrumental musicians are a risk group for a variety of skin conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and risk factors of instrument-related skin disorders in musicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We mailed an 11-item survey to 19 German universities of music and performing arts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  412 musicians returned the completed questionnaire, of whom 21.6% (89/412) had an instrument-related skin disorder including callosities (52/89; 58.4%), contact dermatitis (CD; 17/89; 19.1%), fiddler's neck (17/89; 19.1%), and erosion (3/89; 3.4%). Allergic CD (13/17; 76.5%) was most frequently reported in violinists and violists. Of 116 violinists and violists, 17 (14.7%) suffered from fiddler's neck. String and plucking instrumentalists most frequently reported callosities (61/89; 68.5%) and skin problems (32/37; 86.5%). Instrument-related skin disorders were significantly associated with high practice frequencies (P = 0.022) and a professional status (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Callosities and CD were the most commonly reported skin changes in the respondents. Both callosities and skin problems such as CD and fiddler's neck are significantly associated with high practice frequencies and professional status. Our data indicate that among those returning the questionnaires, string players and plucking instrumentalists seem to be at highest risk of developing skin problems when compared with players of other musical instruments.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany. t.gambichler@klinikum-bochum.de
authors: Thilo
authors: T
authors: Gambichler
authors: Akin
authors: A
authors: Uzun
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Boms
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Altmeyer
authors: Eckart
authors: E
authors: Altenmüller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D002145:Callosities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens