OCCUPATIONAL DERMATOSES

--A PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIANS--

Supplemental Slides on Occupational Dermatology Case Studies

(Contributed by Susan Nedorost, M.D., Lakewood, OH.)

Workers frequently develop a secondary contact allergy to topical products such as antibiotics that they use to treat their work-related dermatitis. This dental assistant with hand dermatitis was allergic to glutaraldehyde that she used to sterilize instruments, and to neomycin.

Dermatitis primarily on the non-dominant hand develops in workers who grip an object while performing a more delicate task, often with a tool, with the dominant hand. This right-handed optician recalled only after patch-testing positive to ethyl acrylate that he sometimes held heated acrylic frames in his left hand, which caused his dermatitis.

This hair stylist with hand dermatitis was allergic to para-phenylenediamine (hair dye) and glyceryl monothioglycolate (permanent wave solution). The latter penetrates both vinyl and rubber gloves and allergy may be a cause of permanent disability.