Contact dermatitis, irritant

Category

Skin Disease

Acute/Chronic

Subacute

Synonyms

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD);

Biomedical References

Comments

Skin disorders comprise about 35% of occupational diseases, and the majority of these (more than 95%) are types of contact dermatitis. Statistic in the United States show that about 80% of contact dermatitis is irritant and about 20% is allergic. Statistics in European countries suggest a 50/50 split between the irritant and allergic forms. Atopic dermatitis is a predisposing factor for irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) but not for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Skin irritants increase workers' risks for ACD. Common causes of ICD are water, detergents, soaps, acids, alkalis, solvents, metalworking fluids, and abrasives. "Wet work" is defined by German regulations as skin exposure to liquids or wearing occlusive gloves for >2 hours/day or hand washing >20 times/day. At risk for ICD are housekeepers, construction workers, butchers, machinists, hairdressers, food processors, and medical/dental workers. Prevention of ICD includes reducing exposure by job modification, wearing appropriate protective clothing, and using bland emollients such as white petrolatum. [Rosenstock, p. 699-704; Kanerva, p. 87-98; LaDou, p. 224-9] See "Contact dermatitis, allergic."

Latency/Incubation

May be immediate for strong irritant; Dermatitis from weaker irritants may take days or weeks;

Diagnostic

Clinical

ICD-9 Code

692.9

ICD-10 Code

L25.9; L24

Reference Link

Symptoms/Findings

Symptoms/Findings associated with this disease:

• dermatitis

Agents

Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:

• Irritants