Prevention and Repair of Barrier Disruption in Occupational Dermatology

Hand dermatitis is recognized as one of the most common occupational diseases in the industrialized world (1). In occupational populations the one-year prevalence of hand dermatitis varies from 3% to 32% (2). Further epidemiological studies have identified wet-work professionals at high-risk of developing dermatitis of the hands (3). In these professions irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) results from frequent contact of the skin to irritants and humidity, and is more common than allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) (4).