Occupational Dermatitis - Occupational Dermatitis Claims
Occupational dermatitis is not one specific type of eczema. It is any type of eczema caused by a person’s workplace. This distinct classification came about because occupational dermatitis has unique causes and a large number of people develop eczema on the job.
Signs and symptoms
According to estimates, 5% of men and 10% of women in the workforce develop eczema on their hands from workplace exposure. Most often this occurs when something that touches the skin causes irritation (irritant contact dermatitis) or an allergic reaction (allergic contact dermatitis).
Occupational dermatitis also frequently develops on the forearms and face. Signs and symptoms of occupational dermatitis include:
- Dry, chapped skin (mild case)
- Raw and irritated-looking skin (more severe)
- Redness, swelling, scaly skin, wearing away of the top layers of skin, cracks, blisters, and skin ulcers (more severe)
- Itching, burning, and/or stinging of the affected skin
- If the condition persists for some time, the skin may thicken
Who gets it?
Anyone who has frequent exposure to substances that can irritate the skin or who uses strong chemicals on the job can develop occupational dermatitis. With frequent use, even substances as mild as water and detergent can irritate the skin and cause eczema.
Causes
The causes of occupational dermatitis are many and dermatologists often find that more than one cause plays some role. Leading causes include:
- Repeat exposure to substances that over time irritate the skin.
- Long-term exposure to a substance that over time becomes an allergen (substance to which the person is allergic).
- Airborne particles that become trapped against the skin, such as under the collar or beneath the waistband.
- Harsh chemical(s) touches the hands or saturates the clothes, causing eczema.
- Working with chemicals that become toxic when exposed to sunlight. Most common amongst roofers and agricultural workers.
Risk Factors
- Occupation. People in certain occupations have a higher risk.
A study of 42,839 patients with contact dermatitis found that about 27% of these people developed eczema from on-the-job exposure. Five occupations — housekeeper, bricklayer, worker in the metallurgic or mechanical industry, hairdresser, and health-care worker — were responsible for more than 60% of these cases.
- Studies in the United States, Canada, and Europe conclude that other occupations with a higher-than-average risk include janitors and maids, florists, bakers, bartenders, caterers, cooks, and agricultural workers.
- Industry. Working in some industries, especially agriculture and manufacturing, increases the risk.
- Age. Several studies suggest that susceptibility decreases with age.
- Gender. Women seem to have an increased risk and more intense reactions.
- Atopic condition. Persons who have a history of atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, have an increased risk of developing hand dermatitis, especially if they frequently immerse their hands in water while at work.
- Environment. Repeatedly wetting and drying the hands damages the skin’s protective barrier, making it easier for irritants and allergens to penetrate the skin. By contrast, a low-humidity environment also can damage the skin’s protective barrier, making it more susceptible to irritants and allergens.
Duration
- Occupational dermatitis can become chronic (long-lasting) if the irritants or allergens continue to contact the skin and the condition is not effectively treated.
- Even the slightest exposure can trigger a flare-up once the skin clears.
How Diagnosed
Diagnosis of an occupational skin disease often requires some detective work by both the patient and the dermatologist. A dermatologist will:
- Take a complete medical history and thoroughly examine the patient’s skin.
- Ask questions about when the condition first appeared, when it worsens, and when it gets better.
- Order patch testing if allergic contact dermatitis, a common type of eczema, is suspected. Patch testing is a safe and effective way to identify allergens (substances to which a person is allergic).
During a patch test, strips of tape that contain small amounts of several possible allergens, usually 25 to 150, are applied to the patient’s back. The amounts are too small to cause a reaction unless the person is allergic. After 2 days, the patient returns, and the tape is removed. If a small red spot appears, the person is considered allergic to the substance. After 96 hours, the patient is checked again to see if any delayed reactions occur.
Since allergic contact dermatitis occurs so often in some occupations, testing may include a series of potential allergens unique to a profession or industry. Special series of allergens were developed for bakers, hairdressers, as well as people who work with cooling oils, glues, metals, plastics, and rubber.
Treatment
The sooner occupational dermatitis is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis. Chronic (long-term) occupational dermatitis can be difficult to treat. Treatment for occupational dermatitis usually involves:
- Avoiding the substance(s) causing the irritation or allergy. The patient must avoid the cause. Avoiding all substances that can trigger a flare-up can be difficult — if not impossible — when the person encounters these substances at work. Dermatologists can help their patients develop an effective “avoidance” strategy. This may include using a barrier cream and wearing gloves or doing some tasks differently. Sometimes changes also are needed at home. The condition can be worsened by direct exposure to things around the home, such as soaps and detergents.
- Treatment to help clear the skin. Treatment may include applying emollients and moisturisers frequently throughout the day, using a topical anti-itch product, taking an oral antihistamine to help stop the itch, and applying a topical corticosteroid or calcineurin inhibitor to reduce inflammation. In more severe cases, phototherapy treatments may be used to suppress the person’s over-active immune response. If an infection develops, antibiotics are necessary.
- If contact dermatitis persists despite treatment, oral or injectable corticosteroids can be used for a short time to get the inflammation under control.
- Following a skin care program. The dermatologist may recommend a skin care program. Following this program can help prevent the condition from getting worse and prevent future outbreaks.
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'No-win, no-fee' changes announced by Ken Clarke
Date Posted : 14/04/2011
Does it matter what type of claim you have?
So if I have a road accident would it make any difference than say, a claim for occupational Dermatitis?
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'No-win, no-fee' changes announced by Ken Clarke
Date Posted : 31/03/2011
No Win, No Fee as we know it, is changing soon. Solicitors will be forced by the Government to take a percentage of their clients compensation.
If you are thinking of making a claim for compensation...DO IT NOW BEFORE THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
S
View Post
I have eczema...help!
Date Posted : 17/08/2010
A.C.V. Apple Cider Vinegar
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Skin Claim?
Date Posted : 06/08/2010
I hadn't worked for my employer for two years and yes, I am pursuing a claim. It looks as if they haven't provided sufficent protection for my hands. It's on going...but being dealt with.
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hand rash
Date Posted : 04/08/2010
as far as i know, and from what i've read on these threads - you've done the right thing so far. it's all about gathering as much evidence a s possible - gettin it reported on your work file, reported on your medical records etc...as for your hands try toothpaste to get rid of any itch.
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Hidden in coins, bras and chocolate...the metal that triggers a life-wrecking allergy
Date : 15 Mar 2011
When Marti Stanley tells people broccoli brings her out in a rash, their first reaction is that it’s just an excuse to avoid it.
When she goes on to tell them that green beans, spinach, shellfish, raspberries, pulses or pears have an equally nasty effect, they clearly think she’s neurotic.
And if she adds that anything from a can (food or drink), and even chocolate, risks triggering an anaphylactic shock, there can be no doubt: she’s the dinner party guest from hell. ‘I’m used to being thought of as difficult,’ says Marti, 49, who lives in South-West London.
Source : www.dailymail.co.uk
Link : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1366316/Hidden-coins-bras-chocolate--metal-triggers-life-wrecking-allergy.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Pharmaceutical company to pay over £100,000 for exposure to hazardous substances
Date : 16 Feb 2011
Catalent UK Swindon Zydis Limited (trading as Catalent Pharma Solutions) was ordered to pay over £100,000 in fi nes and costs in December 2010 for exposing ten of its employees to Olanzapine, a hazardous substance. Charges were brought under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and four different regulations in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
Source : www.lexology.com
Link : www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=752db906-8d3a-4a0e-9d31-875966066112
Mum's horror cement burns
Date : 16 Feb 2011
MUM Jane Dobson was left with these horrific injuries to her legs after kneeling in wet B&Q cement while carrying out DIY in her own kitchen.
Jane, 46, was left in so much agony she feared her legs "were going to explode" after the corrosive cement soaked through her trousers.
She had bought the cement from B&Q to lay a new floor in her kitchen and when she knelt in it the liquid began burning her flesh.
Source : www.thesun.co.uk
Link : www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3412957/Mums-horror-cement-burns.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News
The opposite of beauty: The chemical make-up ingredients that raise risk of skin damage
Date : 12 Feb 2011
It is supposed to help women look their best.
But make-up is often so full of chemicals that it could leave them with unsightly skin conditions instead, doctors warn.
The average woman uses 12 products a day, containing 168 ingredients, according to research by U.S. organisation Skin Deep. And some can be particularly harsh on the skin.
Experts say eye shadow is among the worst offenders. The skin around the eyes is so sensitive that many women have allergic reactions to the strong chemicals in eye shadows, kohl pencils, mascaras and make-up remover.
Even polish on fingernails can irritate the eyes when women touch their faces.
Source : www.dailymail.co.uk
Link : www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1356212/Make-ingredients-risk-skin-damage.html
Dermatologists Warn That Plants Can Cause A Garden Variety Of Pesky Skin Problems
Date : 07 Feb 2011
What may start as a seemingly harmless day of gardening or yard work can quickly take a turn for the worse when common plants make their mark on the skin, causing a host of mild to even severe skin reactions. That is why dermatologists are arming outdoor enthusiasts with preventative tips to keep these perils of the great outdoors at arm's length.
Source : www.medicalnewstoday.com
Link : www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215757.php