Contact Dermatitis in the United States: Epidemiology, Economic Impact, and Workplace Prevention

Dermatologic Clinics

Volumn 30, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 87-98

  Cashman, Michael W ^a   Reutemann, Patricia A ^a   Ehrlich, Alison ^a,b  

^a GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES   (United States)

^b GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Contact dermatitis; Economic impact; Epidemiology; Occupational; Patch testing; Prevention strategies

Indexed keywords

2 BROMO 2 BROMOMETHYLGLUTARONITRILE; ALLERGEN; BACITRACIN; BALSAM; BRONOPOL; CINNAMALDEHYDE; COBALT CHLORIDE; DIAZOLIDINYL UREA; FORMALDEHYDE; GERMALL 115; NEOMYCIN; NICKEL SULFATE; PHENYLENEDIAMINE; PROPYLENE GLYCOL; QUATERNIUM 15;

ADL DISABILITY; AGE; ATOPIC DERMATITIS; ATOPY; COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS; DISEASE ASSOCIATION; DISEASE CLASSIFICATION; DISEASE CONTROL; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION; ETHNIC DIFFERENCE; GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION; HEALTH CARE COST; HEALTH EDUCATION; HEALTH PROGRAM; HUMAN; INCIDENCE; IRRITANT DERMATITIS; JOB STRESS; OCCUPATIONAL CONTACT DERMATITIS DISEASE SEVERITY INDEX; OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD; OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; OCCUPATIONAL SKIN DISEASE; PATCH TEST; PREVALENCE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT; QUALITY OF LIFE; RACE DIFFERENCE; RATING SCALE; REVIEW; RISK FACTOR; SEX DIFFERENCE; SEX RATIO; SKIN ALLERGY; SKIN CARE; SKIN FUNCTION; SKIN IRRITATION; SKIN PENETRATION; SKIN SENSITIZATION; UNITED STATES; WORKER; WORKMAN COMPENSATION;

COST OF ILLNESS; DERMATITIS, CONTACT; DERMATITIS, OCCUPATIONAL; HUMANS; INCIDENCE; IRRITANTS; PREVALENCE; RISK FACTORS; SKIN TESTS; UNITED STATES; WORKPLACE;

EID: 82455209459     PISSN: 07338635     EISSN: 15580520     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2011.08.004     Document Type: Review

References (67)

1. Bourke J., Coulson I., English J. Guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis: an update. Br J Dermatol 2009, 160:946-954.
2. Clark S.C., Zirwas M.J. Management of occupational dermatitis. Dermatol Clin 2009, 27:365-383.
3. Krasteva M., Kehren M.T., Ducluzeau M., et al. Contact dermatitis II. Clinical aspects and diagnosis. Eur J Dermatol 1999, 9(2):144-160.
4. Nijhawan R.I., Molenda M., Zirwas M.J., et al. Systemic contact dermatitis. Dermatol Clin 2009, 27(3):355-364.
5. Thyssen J.P., Maibach H.I. Drug-elicited systemic allergic (contact) dermatitis-update and possible pathomechanisms. Contact Dermatitis 2008, 59(4):195-202.
6. Belsito D.V. Occupational contact dermatitis: etiology, prevalence, and resultant impairment/disability. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005, 53(2):303-313.
7. Bordel-Gómez M.T., Miranda-Romero A., Castrodeza-Sanz J. Epidemiology of contact dermatitis: prevalence of sensitization to different allergens and associated factors. Actas Dermosifiliogr 2010, 101(1):59-75.
8. Thyssen J.P., Johansen J.D., Linneberg A., et al. The epidemiology of hand eczema in the general population-prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis 2010, 62:75-87.
9. Modjtahedi S.P., Maibach H.I. Ethnicity as a possible endogenous factor in irritant contact dermatitis: comparing the irritant response among Caucasians, Blacks, and Asians. Contact Dermatitis 2002, 47(5):272-278.
10. Deleo V.A., Taylor S.C., Belsito D.V., et al. The effect of race and ethnicity on patch test results. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002, 46(2 Suppl Understanding):S107-S112.
11. Aramaki J., Kawana S., Effendy I., et al. Differences of skin irritation between Japanese and European women. Br J Dermatol 2002, 146(6):1052-1056.
12. Fairhurst D.A., Shah M. Comparison of patch test results among white Europeans and patients from the Indian subcontinent living within the same community. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2008, 22(10):1227-1231.
13. Sharma V.K., Asati D.P. Pediatric contact dermatitis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2010, 76(5):514-520.
14. O'Connell R.L., White I.R., Mc Fadden J.P., et al. Hairdressers with dermatitis should always be patch tested regardless of atopy status. Contact Dermatitis 2010, 3:177-181.
15. Hogan D.J., Ledet J.J. Impact of regulation on contact dermatitis. Dermatol Clin 2009, 27:385-394.
16. Hogan DJ. Allergic contact dermatitis. Medscape Reference. Available at: Updated June 3, 2010. Accessed April 20, 2011. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1049216-overview.
17. Lushniak B.D. Occupational contact dermatitis. Dermatol Ther 2004, 17:272-277.
18. Blanciforti L.A. Economic burden of dermatitis in US workers. J Occup Environ Med 2010, 52(11):1045-1054.
19. McCall B.P., Horwitz I.B., Feldman S.R., et al. Incidence rates, costs, severity, and work-related factors of occupational dermatitis. A workers' compensation analysis of Oregon, 1990-1997. Arch Dermatol 2005, 141:713-718.
20. Fregert S. Occupational dermatitis in a 10-year material. Contact Dermatitis 1975, 1(2):96-107.
21. Mathias C.G.T. Occupational dermatoses. J Am Acad Dermatol 1988, 19(6):1107-1114.
22. Koch P. Occupational contact dermatitis. Recognition and management. Am J Clin Dermatol 2001, 2(6):353-365.
23. Dooms-Goossens A., Drieghe J., Dooms M. The computer and occupational skin disease 1990, Saunders, Philadelphia.
24. Nethercott J.R., Holness D.L., Adams R.M., et al. Patch testing with a routine screening tray in North America, 1985 through 1989: I-IV. Am J Contact Dermatitis 1991, 2:122-134. 198-201, 247-54.
25. Curr N., Dharmage S., Keegel T., et al. The validity and reliability of the occupational contact dermatitis disease severity index. Contact Dermatitis 2008, 59:157-164.
26. Skoet R., Olsen J., Mathiesen B., et al. A survey of occupational hand eczema in Denmark. Contact Dermatitis 2004, 51:159-166.
27. Holness D.L. Characteristic features of occupational dermatitis: epidemiologic studies of occupational skin disease reported by contact dermatitis clinics. Occup Med 1994, 9:45-52.
28. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational injuries and illnesses in the United States. Available at: Accessed April 20, 2011. http://www.bls.gov/iif.
29. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Survey-Pilot study for development of an occupational disease surveillance method 1975, US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, HEW Publication (NIOSH), Rockville (MD), p. 75-162.
30. Bureau of Labor Statistics-Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities databases 2009, United States Department of Labor, Washington, DC, Available at:, Accessed April 20, 2011. http://www.bls.gov/iif/data.htm.
31. Kucenic M.J., Belsito D.V. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis is more prevalent than irritant contact dermatitis: a 5-year study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002, 46:695-699.
32. Andersen K.E. Multicentre patch test studies: are they worth the effort?. Contact Dermatitis 1998, 38:222-223.
33. The Lewin Group, Inc The burden of skin diseases 2005 2005, The Society for Investigative Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association, Cleveland (OH), p. 37-40.
34. Fowler J.F., Duh M.S., Chang J., et al. A survey-based assessment of the prevalence and severity of chronic hand dermatitis in a managed care organization. Cutis 2006, 77:385-392.
35. Skin conditions in the UK: a healthcare needs assessment 2009, 1-146. Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, Nottingham (UK). J.K. Schofield, D. Grindlay, H.C. Williams (Eds.).
36. Cvetkovski R.S., Zachariae R., Jensen H., et al. Quality of life and depression in a population of occupational hand eczema patients. Contact Dermatitis 2006, 54:106-111.
37. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Worker health chartbook 2004: skin diseases and disorders. Available at: Accessed April 21, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-146/ch2/ch2-11.asp.htm.
38. Lushniak B.D. The importance of occupational skin diseases in the United States. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2003, 76:325-330.
39. Fowler J. Chronic hand eczema: a prevalent and challenging skin condition. Cutis 2008, 82(4):4-8.
40. Shmunes E., Keil J.E. Occupational dermatoses in South Carolina: a descriptive analysis of cost variables. J Am Acad Dermatol 1983, 9:861-866.
41. O'Malley M.A., Mathias C.G. Distribution of lost-work-time claims for skin disease in California agriculture: 1978-1983. Am J Ind Med 1988, 14:715-720.
42. Mathias C.G., Sinks T.H., Seligman P.J., et al. Surveillance of occupational skin disease: a method utilizing workers compensation claims. Am J Ind Med 1990, 73:363-370.
43. Kaufman J.D., Cohen M.A., Sama S., et al. Occupational skin diseases in Washington State, 1989 through 1993: using workers compensation data to identify cutaneous hazards. Am J Public Health 1998, 88:1047-1051.
44. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Developing dermal policy based on laboratory and field studies: a new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research program in response to the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). Available at: Accessed April 21, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/norahmgp.html.
45. Holness D.L. Results of a quality of life questionnaire in a patch test clinic population. Contact Dermatitis 2001, 44:80-84.
46. Anderson R.T., Rajagopalan R. Development and validation of a quality of life instrument for cutaneous diseases. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997, 37:41-50.
47. Rajagopalan R., Anderson R.T. The profile of a patient with contact dermatitis and a suspicion of contact allergy (history, physical characteristics and dermatology-specific quality of life). Am J Contact Dermatitis 1997, 8:26-31.
48. Meding B., Swanbeck G. Consequences of having hand eczema. Contact Dermatitis 1990, 23:6-14.
49. Bernstein J.A. Material safety data sheets: are they reliable in identifying human hazards?. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002 Jul, 110(1):35-38.
50. Keegel T., Saunders H., LaMontagne A.D., et al. Are material safety data sheets (MSDS) useful in the diagnosis and management of occupational contact dermatitis?. Contact Dermatitis 2007, 57(5):331-336.
51. Contact Allergen Management Program (CAMP) Database. Bunnell (FL): American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS). Available at: Accessed May 2, 2011. http://www.contactderm.org.
52. Weisshaar E., Radulescu M., Soder S., et al. Secondary individual prevention of occupational skin diseases in health care workers, cleaners and kitchen employees: aims, experiences and descriptive results. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2007, 80(6):477-484.
53. Seyfarth F., Schliemann S., Antonov D., et al. Teaching interventions in contact dermatitis. Dermatitis 2011, 22(1):8-15.
54. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Workplace safety & health topics. Available at: Updated August 26, 2010. Accessed April 25, 2011. http://cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/recommendations.html.
55. Brown T. Strategies for prevention: occupational contact dermatitis. Occup Med (Lond) 2004, 54(7):450-457.
56. van Gils R.F., Boot C.R., van Gils P.F., et al. Effectiveness of prevention programmes for hand dermatitis: a systematic review of the literature. Contact Dermatitis 2011, 64(2):63-72.
57. Apfelbacher C.J., Soder S., Diepgen T.L., et al. The impact of measures for secondary individual prevention of work-related skin diseases in health care workers: 1-year follow-up study. Contact Dermatitis 2009, 60(3):144-149.
58. Frick-Engfeldt M., Gruvberger B., Isaksson M., et al. Comparison of three different techniques for application of water solutions to Finn Chambers. Contact Dermatitis 2010, 63(5):284-288.
59. van der Valk P.G., Devos S.A., Coenraads P.J. Evidence-based diagnosis in patch testing. Contact Dermatitis 2003, 48(3):121-125.
60. Nethercott J. The positive predictive accuracy of patch tests. Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 1989, 9:549-553.
61. Wilkinson J.D. Identification of factors involved in contact dermatitis. Textbook of contact dermatitis 1991, 662. Springer-Verlag, New York. J.G. Rycroft, T. Menne, P.J. Frosch (Eds.).
62. Goulden V., Wilkinson S.M. Evaluation of a contact allergy clinic. Clin Exp Dermatol 2000, 25(1):67-70.
63. Rajagopalan R., Anderson R.T., Sarma S., et al. An economic evaluation of patch testing in the diagnosis and management of allergic contact dermatitis. Am J Contact Dermatitis 1998, 9(3):149-154.
64. Rajagopalan R., Kallal J.E., Fowler J.F., et al. A retrospective evaluation of patch testing in patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis. Cutis 1996, 57(5):360-364.
65. Rajagopalan R., Anderson R. Impact of patch testing on dermatology-specific quality of life in patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Am J Contact Dermatitis 1997, 8(4):215-221.
66. Slodownik D., Williams J., Frowen K., et al. The additive value of patch testing with patients' own products at an occupational dermatology clinic. Contact Dermatitis 2009, 61(4):231-235.
67. Rietschel R.L. Human and economic impact of allergic contact dermatitis and the role of patch testing. J Am Acad Dermatol 1995, 33(5 Pt 1):812-815.