ABSTRACT
I. Introduction 159
II. Individual Factors 159
III. Causes and Frequency of Occupational Skin Injuries 160 IV. Hand Eczema Following a Mechanical Injury 161 V. Hand Eczema Following Repeated Friction 161
References 162
I. INTRODUCTION
Eczema patients may explain that their eczema appeared after an injury to the skin. It may be a causal coincidence in some cases. However, mechanical trauma may also precipitate eczema.1-4 Further, patients with a preexisting skin disease may experience localized aggravation of the disorder as a consequence of mechanical trauma to the site. If a dynamic relationship between trauma and the development of hand eczema is made probable, and no other cause can be found, then it has important medicolegal implications when the injury is job-related. This chapter describes aspects of hand eczema related to mechanical injury and repeated friction.
