Occupational and Hand Dermatitis: a Practical Approach

AbstractOccupational skin disease is common. It affects workers more often than reported. Contact dermatitis, both irritant and allergic, accounts for the majority of occupational skin diagnoses. Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) frequently affects the hands and may have a profound impact on an employee ’s ability to perform a job. Severe OCD can affect a worker’s activities of daily living and can even lead to job loss. Numerous irritants have been described in the workplace, from the common (wet work) to the more obscure (warm, dry air). Several contact allergens may be work-related, and the majority of established occupational allergens are also known nonoccupational allergens. Emerging occupational allergens are continually described in the literature. Patch testing is the gold standard for the workup of allergic contact dermatitis. Patch testing in the setting of OCD may require exte nded or unique allergen trays, as well as a thorough occupational history and collection of workplace Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). These MSDS contain valuable information but may not be complete or accurate. Proof of occupational causation can be aided by employing the Mathias criteria. Certa in industries and occupations are associated with higher rates of OCD, and as expected, the industries with direct contact with irritants and allergens are highly represented. The differential diagnosis for occupational dermatitis is broad and should be considered when evaluating an emplo...
Source: Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research