PlayStation Skin Disorder 'PlayStation Palmar Hidradentitis' You a Sufferer?

Notwithstanding the fact that playing computer and console games makes
you clinically antisocial, emotionally warped, mentally unstable and
potentially a serial killer (so the media would have us believe) it now
transpires that excessive console gaming can also result in skin
disorders (life, eh?).

Following on from the news that excessive Nintendo Wii gaming can
reportedly occasion acute tendonitis, it now transpires that PlayStation
users who expose themselves to 'excessive' gaming sessions are evidently
running the risk of succumbing a skin disorder known as 'PlayStation
Palmar Hidradentitis'.

According to the Swiss scientists who claim to have identified the
condition, PlayStation Palmar Hidradentitis takes the form of 'painful
lesions on the palms similar to patches found on the soles of children's
feet after taking part in heavy physical activity'. Interesting, and if
you'll excuse the flippancy, it seems that Xbox users are perfectly safe
at this stage, however, as the scientists concerned are yet to establish
the existence of 'Xbox Palmar Hidradentitis' (expect another news
release in a few years following a further study).

Sony are, understandably, extremely concerned about the matter, with
Sony spokesman David Wilson offering the following the following statement:

As with any leisure pursuit there are possible consequences of not
following common sense, health advice and guidelines, as can be found
within our instruction manuals. And, just to show how very seriously
Sony is taking the matter, he added We would not wish to belittle this
research and we will study the findings with interest, but this is the
first time we have ever heard of a complaint of this nature.

Apparently the condition was established following a 12 year old girl
attending the Geneva hospital with 'intensely painful lesions on her
hands', Reuters reports, adding 'The researchers suspected that grasping
the console's hand-grips together with repeated pushing of the buttons
produced minor but prolonged injury to the palm of the girl's hands,
which can be made worse by sweating during a tense game.'

Thankfully the British Association of Dermatologists have, however,
offered this helpful advise for those who think that they may be falling
prey to PlayStation Palmar Hidradentitis (which we'll duly file under
our 'Stating the Bleeding Obvious category): If you're worried about
soreness on your hands when playing a games console, it might be
sensible to give your hands a break from time to time, and don't play
excessively if your hands are prone to sweating.

Conclusive proof for you there, if ever you needed it, that the Xbox is
not only a more popular console with gamers than the PlayStation, and is
decidedly more polite than the Wii, but is, in all actuality, the
healthy option. And remember, you didn't hear it here first.