Frictional lichenified dermatosis from prolonged use of a computer mouse: Case report and review of the literature of computer-related dermatoses.

Despite the increasing reliance on computers and the associated health risks, computer-related dermatoses remain under-represented in the literature. This term collectively refers to four groups of cutaneous pathologies: 1) allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to certain chemicals in computer accessories, 2) various friction-induced hand lesions resulting from prolonged computer use, 3) erythema ab igne from placement of the laptop on the skin, and 4) "screen dermatitis" from excessive exposure to visual display terminals (VDTs). Within this review we also present a case of a friction-induced lichenified dermatosis in the dominant wrist of a 24-year-old female that was caused by excessive use of her computer mouse. More importantly, we review the literature of all previously reported cases of computer-related dermatoses, so as to promote recognition and appropriate management by both patients and physicians.