During polysomnography, which of the following can create skin irritation, such as a rash?

During polysomnography, which of the following can create skin irritation, such as a rash?

• A. Spike in EEG
• B. High impedance
• C. High-frequency artifacts
• D. Slow waves

Answer: (B)

Focusing on the electrode-skin interface explains this well. Skin irritation during polysomnography is often caused by what the electrode sits on and what is applied to the skin to establish contact. When impedance is high, contact is poor, which typically leads to more prep work—reapplying gel or paste, repositioning, or using adhesives. These materials can irritate sensitive skin and cause a rash. The other options describe brain activity or signal artifacts and do not inherently cause skin reactions. A spike in EEG is a rapid brain event, high-frequency artifacts are noise, and slow waves are normal sleep-related patterns.

Focusing on the electrode-skin interface explains this well. Skin irritation during polysomnography is often caused by what the electrode sits on and what is applied to the skin to establish contact. When impedance is high, contact is poor, which typically leads to more prep work—reapplying gel or paste, repositioning, or using adhesives. These materials can irritate sensitive skin and cause a rash. The other options describe brain activity or signal artifacts and do not inherently cause skin reactions. A spike in EEG is a rapid brain event, high-frequency artifacts are noise, and slow waves are normal sleep-related patterns.