Are you allergic to Mice?
Saturday, March 29, 2008 by sleepydawg | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
At the ripe old age of fifty, I have lived past the warranty of life. From here, I do believe things will go down hill. Last year I had skin cancer cut from both of my arms. This year my fingers are locking in place from arthritis. Now I have become allergic to mice.
Allergic to mice! Yes, that is what I said. I have become allergic to the computer mouse. "Contact Dermatitis"
Marjolein Wintzen, Esther J. van Zuuren Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center say,
"The use of computers has increased vastly, occupationally as well as for private use, and in the last decade, a number of reports have been published in which skin problems are ascribed to the (intensive) use of computers. Not only irritant or mechanically induced contact dermatitis has been reported but also allergic contact dermatitis. As this appears to be a new group of occupational dermatoses."
So, what to do?
The doctor cured the problem for a short time with steroids. But that just created a bunch more problems. Believe me, steroids are bad.
A friend, when hearing that I was allergic to mice suggested that I get a cat.
At once I thought of contacting "Po Smedley" http://posmedley.wincustomize.com/. He being the Cat and Mouse expert. Then I remembered that I was also allergic to cats.
I have tried about 6 different mice including the old "Ball Type".
Gloves are just not practical.
My wife thinks maybe gluing leather to the mouse will help. Don't know yet. Still to be tried.
So, does anybody else have this problem? Any Ideas on what to do?
The good news is I still have both of my arms and hands. They're just all cut up, deformed, and broke out in blisters.
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Reply #22 Monday, March 31, 2008 2:04 PM
Reply #23 Monday, March 31, 2008 2:14 PM
You know what is better for your joints? A vertical mouse. I have Rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and go to hand therapy. The vert. mouse has been a lifesaver. This is what I use: http://www.thehumansolution.com/evoluent.html
It's really weird that putting a barrier ie: glove) between you and the mouse doesn't keep the dermatitis away. It seems like maybe it's prolonged exposure to anything that is causing it, not just the mouse.
Reply #24 Monday, March 31, 2008 2:48 PM
It looks rather large. Is it comfortable and did it take you long to get used to it?
Reply #25 Monday, March 31, 2008 8:01 PM
Maybe the heat?
Reply #26 Monday, March 31, 2008 8:14 PM
Cant afford it though. Guess I will just have to shoot holes in mine.
Reply #27 Monday, March 31, 2008 8:20 PM
CarGuy, I can just here the guys at work when I start putting a condom on the mouse. There will be no end to that one.
Reply #28 Monday, March 31, 2008 11:18 PM
Ah, but you tell them it's necessary.... you caught the mouse getting frisky with the keyboard and fear how their offspring would turn out.
Reply #29 Monday, July 20, 2009 2:39 AM
I have the same problem at 56. I thought it was my imagination. It just seems to affect my thumb and I tried wearing bandaids whch got rediculous. Then I discovered Scotch/3m smooth white paper painters tape. It lasts for a while until the glue gets funky then you just change it off. It's not a permanant answer but it does the job for me. You just have to tear it to shape.
I hope this helps you.
Reply #30 Monday, July 20, 2009 4:02 AM
This might interest you:
Microair Inbetween Glove (PDF)
Unfortunately the only further info I can find on it is in swedish. (I do know swedish, so PM me if you want more info, I'll help out as much as I can. Google translate can help alot too)
Medeca give the following advise:
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Use a softening cream without perfume you're comfortable with.
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Protect your hands agains soap, detergents and other chemicals by using protective gloves WITHOUT latex.
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Use cotton gloves as needed. DermaSilk and Microair IN-between-gloves protect and treat exzema.
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Avoid doing laundry and dishes by hand.
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Use lukewarm water and a small amoung of unperfumed soap when washing your hands. Dry hands with care after wash. Avoid washing your hands too often.
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Sweat in rubber gloves makes exzema worse. Cottongloves, or preferrably DermaSilk-gloves, should be worn under loosely fitting rubber gloves. Avoid very warm water.
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Remove any rings when working with your hands in water or dirt.
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Shampooing should be done with protective gloves.
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Talk to your employer if your exzema affect your work.
There goes... I hope it helps.
EDIT: Seems like EXZEMA is the apropriate word to use in cases like this, so I changed my use of dermatitis into that instead. Don't want to misinform you about this.
EDIT2: Further research indicate the spelling to be ECZEMA, I'm just too lazy to fix it... 
Reply #31 Monday, July 20, 2009 4:07 AM
Ah, but you tell them it's necessary.... you caught the mouse getting frisky with the keyboard and fear how their offspring would turn out.
Lol. Make sure it's latex-free condoms though.
Reply #32 Monday, July 20, 2009 4:36 AM
If you are still having outbreaks, try Gelocast by BSNmedicall (ref no. 1053-00). You should be able to find it at the pharmacy. Keep it in the fridge. I get the same problem on my leg. This clears it up really fast. It was recommended by a pharmacist. Since it is on your hands, may be use it at night with cotton gloves to keep it in place.
Hope this helps.
C.N.
Reply #33 Monday, July 20, 2009 6:12 AM
[quote who="sleepydawg" reply="25" id="1672689"]It seems like maybe it's prolonged exposure to anything that is causing it, not just the mouse.
Maybe the heat?
Just curious....how did they find the mouse was the cause (not that it can't be).
starkers is right that the most common causes are soaps with perfumes, heavy metals (Cadmium, Chrome...) and/or a host of materials that you come in contact with every day.
You should look at the possibility that the car steering wheel, or oils/greases on the fork lift/ hydraulic fluid, etc. might be culprits as well.
Try wearing gloves at work....vinyl, not latex...and you can use corn starch in the gloves.
Finally, I found a hypoallergenic mouse advertised (a keyboard as well): http://www.ruggedtech.com/Docs/MedigenicMouseDatasheet.pdf
Incidentally, you might also want to consult a University based, Medical school associated Dermatologist and make sure you've been diagnosed correctly. Second opinions never hurt. No skin off their backs, right? 
Reply #35 Monday, July 20, 2009 10:59 AM
Necrothread.
But I wonder if Sleepydawg solved the problem?
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Reply #21 Monday, March 31, 2008 1:25 PM