Low-energy light bulbs can cause rashes and swelling to sensitive skin, warn experts
By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 1:41 PM on 14th March 2009
excerpts:
The phasing out of traditional light bulbs could cause misery for thousands who have light-sensitive skin disorders, medical experts warned yesterday.
Dr Robert Sarkany said some low-energy bulbs gave vulnerable people painful rashes and swelling.
He backed calls by patient groups for the Government to give medical exemptions for those at risk.
Although low-energy bulbs cut household electricity bills, the move has proved unpopular with shoppers.
Halogens are more expensive - costing around £1.99 each - while critics say the fluorescent type have an unattractive harsh light and take up to a minute to warm up to full strength.
But medical charities say the light from low-energy bulbs triggers migraines, epilepsy and rashes.
Dr Sarkany, a photodermatologist at St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, in London, said he has treated patients for rashes caused by exposure to low-energy lamps.
Some suffer from lupus, a disease of the immune system that can cause skin to become hypersensitive to sunlight.
But Dr Sarkany said lupus sufferers were also reporting an adverse reaction to fluorescent lights.
He added: 'Patients with lupus feel strongly about this. They feel their skin deteriorates with fluorescent lights and have taken this issue to Parliament.'
A spokesman for Skin Care Campaign said: 'The main concern is over the intensity of the ultraviolet light from low-energy bulbs.
'Particularly for people with skin conditions such as lupus, eczema and psoriasis, it causes a lot of problem with burning.
'There are also more unusual conditions where people are completely light-sensitive.
'At the moment, they can use a traditional incandescent light bulb because the ultraviolet light is so dim.
'But low-energy fluorescent lights are a problem.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1161899/Low-energy-light-bulbs-cause-rashes-