Musicians 'suffer skin disorders'

"Guitar nipple" is a form of mastitis from cradling guitars, the study said

Musicians risk such afflictions as "guitar nipple" or "fiddler's neck" playing their instruments, a new dermatology study has reported.

The report said guitarists could suffer a form of mastitis, a breast inflammation, while holding the instrument against their chests.

Violin players also suffered a form of skin complaint in their necks according to the study by a London doctor.

The report also suggested musicians got allergies from playing instruments.

The report by Dr Thilo Gambichler, of Oldchurch Hospital in east London, was published in the journal BMC Dermatology.

Dr Gambichler said he had found allergies to rosin, used to wax bows in string instruments and in reeds of clarinets and saxophones.

'Significant problem'

Other players using flutes and brass instruments were found to suffer allergies to nickel, which could cause dermatitis of the lips, it said.

"More or less severe skin injuries may occur in musical instrumentalists, in particular acute and chronic wounds including their complications," the report said.

"Skin conditions may be a significant problem not only in professional instrumentalists, but also in musicians of all ages and ability.

"Although not life threatening, they may lead to impaired performance and occupational hazard."

The report said both clinical physicians and musicians themselves need to be award of the possible risks.