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Dermatology in Public Health Environments pp 641–658Cite as

Occupational Dermatosis

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Abstract

In this chapter, the following topics will be covered:

  • Concept of occupational dermatosis: occupational dermatosis (OD) can be defined as any alteration on the skin, mucosa, and/or adnexa, directly or indirectly caused, maintained or aggravated by anything used during professional activity, or present in the work environment.

  • Epidemiology: The prevalence of OD, which is considered the second most frequent occupational disease, ranking after repetitive stress injuries, is studied in relation to female and male gender, ethnicity, and age.

  • Etiopathogenesis: Especially for contact dermatitis (CD), which is the most common OD.

  • Clinical features: Occupational CD is studied in its various aspects, as well as other less common ODs such as acne, cancers, keratoses, dyschromias, erythema, papular eruptions, foreign body granuloma, infections, onychias, purpura, and ulcerations.

  • Clinical and laboratory diagnosis: With an emphasis on patient history and patch test, the primary test for ODs.

  • Differential diagnosis: CD must be separated from different eczemas.

  • Treatment: Highlighting collective and individual prevention of ODs, with suggestions for individual protective equipment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, São Paulo, Brazil

    Alice de Oliveira de Avelar Alchorne & Maurício Mota de Avelar Alchorne

Authors
  1. Alice de Oliveira de Avelar Alchorne
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  2. Maurício Mota de Avelar Alchorne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alice de Oliveira de Avelar Alchorne .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Service of Clinical, Hospital of Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Renan Rangel Bonamigo

  2. Health Secretary of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Sergio Ivan Torres Dornelles

Glossary

Occupational dermatosis

Can be defined as any alteration on the skin, mucosa, and/or adnexa, directly or indirectly caused, maintained, or aggravated by anything that is used during professional activity or is present in the work environment.

Patch test

Contact allergy test in which suspicious substances are placed on the skin, usually on the back, for 48 h and two readings are taken – at 48 and 96 h (with the latter as the definitive reading). Standardized batteries are employed, with the most allergenic substances of the studied geographic region alongside specific substances, such as cosmetics or metal and others, and, if possible, the patient’s own materials.

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de Oliveira de Avelar Alchorne, A., de Avelar Alchorne, M.M. (2018). Occupational Dermatosis. In: Bonamigo, R., Dornelles, S. (eds) Dermatology in Public Health Environments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33919-1_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33919-1_31

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33917-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33919-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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