Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs Bad for Skin

(London) Warnings have been issued by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and others regarding the dangers of energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs to people with light-sensitive conditions.

According to BAD President Dr. Colin Holden, many people suffer photosensitive eruptions from specific wavelengths of light emitted by fluorescent bulbs. The eruptions range from eczema-like reactions to skin cancer.

Another expert, Andrew Langford of the Skin Care Campaign, indicated that incandescent lighting is necessary for people with chronic light sensitivity.

"Add to this the thousands whose conditions or treatments may secondarily cause them to be light-sensitive, and you have a large number potentially being isolated in the dark.

"The Government simply must allow incandescent light bulbs to be available to these people, their families, friends and employers, and at a fair price."

There have also been complaints that migraine and epileptic attacks are triggered by the flickering fluorescent bulbs.

While not discounting the health considerations, I'm viscerally opposed to any government restrictions being imposed on the marketplace because of something that is theorized to happen 100 years in the future.