Musicians are at risk for developing instrument-associated dermatologic conditions. The cutaneous problems are frequently secondary to abnormalities of saliva production, contact dermatitis, hyperhidrosis, infection, or physical trauma.1-10 Harpist's finger is reported in a beginner harpist who developed a trauma-induced blister on the finger she repetitively used to play her instrument. Skin problems in musicians caused by string instruments are reviewed.
Case Report
A healthy 6-year-old Chinese girl presented with a blister on her left index finger. She did not have a history of skin fragility or bullous skin disorders. Clinical evaluation revealed an 8X6-mm tense, tender, fluid-filled vesicle on the distal ventral pad of her left index finger. Additional questioning revealed that she had recently begun playing the harp and was playing the notes by plucking the strings with her fingers (Figure). Her wooden harp (an Allegro) was made of solid Honduras mahogany with a birch-laminated soundboard and finished with a water-white precatalyzed nitrocellulose lacquer with a semigloss (50%) sheen (unicoat). The nylon strings were either monofilament or wound (nylon wrap over nylon). The red (C musical note) and blue strings (F musical note) were created by placing the nylon strings in boiling water that was used to dissolve scarlet or navy blue dye powder (Rit® dye), respectively.
The diagnosis of a blister secondary to repeated trauma between her distal digit and the taut harp strings was established based on the correlation of the patient's history and clinical findings. The blister subsequently flattened and its roof spontaneously shed. The girl continued to play the harp and eventually developed a callus at this location on her finger.
Comment
Dermatologic conditions in musicians that are caused by the instruments they play are frequently observed in orchestra members. Rimmer and Spielvogel1 distributed a survey regarding skin problems to 84 members of a professional symphony orchestra; 22 of 24 musicians who replied had instrument-associated dermatologic conditions. Intrigued by this study, Nethercott and Holness2 administered a health questionnaire to 41 orchestra members; 8 musicians reported a current work-related skin problem. More recently, Onder et al3 distributed a questionnaire to 97 orchestra members; 40 of 47 musicians who claimed to have either prior or current skin problems considered their dermatoses to be directly related to instrument use. Instrument-related skin conditions in musicians have been designated using several different classifications. Some of the conditions are described by their mechanism of pathogenesis and the resulting problem. For example, pizzicato paronychia is an infection of the nail fold in string players resulting from pizzicato playing whereby the musician plucks the instrument's strings instead of using a bow.4 Other dermatologic conditions in musicians are designated by combining the name of the instrument with either the anatomic location of the problem (eg, harpist's finger) or the description of the dermatosis (eg, piano paronychia). Alliteration often is incorporated into the nomenclature when these conditions are described, such as cellist's chest, clarinetist's cheilitis, drummer's digits, fiddler's fingers, guitarist's groin, piano paronychia, and pizzicato paronychia.1-6Harpists may develop calluses on the sides and tips of their fingers (harpist's finger), resulting from pressure and friction between the harpist's fingers and the strings of the instrument. The calluses may be painful or become irritated. Similar to the reported beginner harpist, neophyte harpists are especially susceptible to finger injury, such as sore fingertips and blister formation, prior to the development of calluses. Gradually increasing the time devoted to practicing the harp may enable the beginner harpist to avoid these problems.1,2,4,6,7,9,11 Harpists also are at risk for developing other instrument-associated dermatologic conditions, including not only intracorneal hemorrhage of the fingertips, similar to the friction-induced bleeding within the upper epidermis observed on the toes of runners (talon noir), but also nail dystrophies. Loosening of the nail plates and onycholysis may result from repetitive glissando playing in which the harpist rapidly glides one or more fingertips across multiple consecutive strings. In addition, paronychia, such as pizzicato paronychia from plucking the strings, and subungual hemorrhage with hematoma formation are other nail-related problems in harpists.1,4,6,7,9,11-13 Allergic contact dermatitis also has been observed, albeit rarely, in harpists. A 25-year-old woman who was a harpist developed an eczematous eruption of 5 months' duration on the fingertips of her right hand.2 Patch testing documented a 2+ reaction to potassium dichromate. Additional investigation revealed that this allergen was used as a tanning agent for the harp strings.2 Instrument-associated skin maladies also have been described in individuals playing other string instruments (Table).1-20 The main causes for these dermatoses are allergic contact dermatitis and physical trauma. The most common allergens associated with string instruments are chromium, nickel, colophony, paraphenylenediamine, propolis, and exotic woods.1-3,5-8,15,16,20