Occupational dermatitis

 Occupational dermatitis

The size of this problem has been underestimated in the past but, both in the UK and the USA, dermatitis is the second most common occupational disordera second only to musculoskeletal injuries. In the UK, it is most common in younger women (Fig. 7.11), and then is often associated with wet work. The incidence in men rises with age, and in older workers it is often caused by contact with cutting oils. Table 7.4 lists the types of work particularly associated with high rates of contact dermatitis in the UK. The hands are affected in 80–90% of cases. Often several factors (constitutional, irritant and allergic) have combined to cause this, and a change of job does not always lead to a cure, particularly in long-established cases. In one large series, hand dermatitis was most common in caterers, metal workers, hairdressers, health care workers and mechanics.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dermatophyte infections (ringworm) - Fungal infections

Image
  Fungal infections Dermatophyte infections (ringworm) Cause Three genera of dermatophyte fungi cause tinea infec-tions (ringworm). •     Trichophyton askin, hair and nail infections.   •     Microsporum askin and hair.   •     Epidermophyton askin and nails.   Dermatophytes invade keratin only, and the inflam-mation they cause is due to metabolic products of the fungus or to delayed hypersensitivity. In gen-eral, zoophilic fungi (those transmitted to humans by animals) cause a more severe inflammation than anthropophilic ones (spread from person to person). Presentation and course This depends upon the site and on the strain of fungus involved. Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) This is the most common type of fungal infection in humans. The sharing of wash places (e.g. in show-ers) and of swimming pools, predisposes to infection; occlusive footwear encourages relapses. Most cases are caused by one of three organisms: Trichophy...
Read more

Dermatoses precipitated or perpetuated by emotional factors

  Dermatoses precipitated or perpetuated by emotional factors Popular candidates for inclusion in this group of diseases are psoriasis, urticaria, atopic eczema, pom-pholyx, discoid eczema, alopecia areata, lichen sim-plex and lichen planus. Fancy rather than fact still rules here, but a scientific basis for these effects is gradually being established. For example, in psoriasis, stress increases the neuropeptide content of lesions, with a concomitant drop in the activity of enzymes that degrade neuropeptides, especially mast-cell chy-mase. In addition, the blood concentrations of certain neuromediators, especially  β -endorphin, changes during exacerbations. Yet an aura of doubt lingers onafor a variety of reasons. The concept of stress is not a simple one, and the terms in which it is discussed are sometimes used rather vaguely. Each type of stress may well provoke its own pattern of response. For this reason many investigators have preferred to record damaging life events r...
Read more

The hair: Classification

Image
  Classification Hairs are classified into three main types. 1    Lanugo hairs . Fine long hairs covering the fetus,but shed about 1 month before birth. 2  Vellus hairs . Fine short unmedullated hairs cover-ing much of the body surface. They replace the lanugo hairs just before birth. 3  Terminal hairs. Long coarse medullated hairs seen, for example, in the scalp or pubic regions. Their growth is often influenced by circulating androgen levels. Terminal hairs convert to vellus hairs in male pattern alopecia, and vellus to terminal hairs in hirsutism. The lips, glans penis, labia minora, palms and soles remain free of hair follicles.  
Read more