Search

Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of personalized training on skin protection associated with the regular use of ceramide-containing cream (CC) versus other creams (OC) for improving hand contact dermatitis. Methods: We performed a double-center randomized trial that enrolled workers with hand dermatitis. All workers received personalized training. The intervention was 3 times per day application of the study emollient. The control arm used an emollient of choice without ceramide, as needed. The primary outcome was improvement in hand dermatitis at 1 and 3 months of follow-up. Results: In total, 102 patients with hand dermatitis were enrolled in this study. Improvement in dermatitis was found in 40%, 52.5%, 50%, and 63% of OC and CC, at the first and second follow-ups, respectively. The use of CC was significantly associated with an improvement in dermatitis (odds ratios 2.6; 95% confidence intervals 1.30-5.2), analyzed using generalized equation estimation during the follow-up. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that an educational personalized intervention could improve the signs and symptoms in patients with hand dermatitis, and the use of a CC resulted in a significantly better outcome during the 3 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contact dermatitis in construction workers (CWs) is frequent due to the widespread exposure to sensitizing substances and irritating agents and the wet and cold working conditions. Objective: Our objectives were to evaluate contact dermatitis characteristics among CWs who underwent patch test in northeastern Italy and to identify related allergens. Methods: Seven hundred ninety-five CWs were studied and their data were compared to 2.099 male white-collar workers. The associations between patch test results and occupations were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Incidence data were calculated from 1996 to 2016. Results: CWs with confirmed occupational dermatitis presented an increased risk to be sensitized to potassium dichromate [OR 3.1 (95%IC 2.0-4.8)], to thiurams [OR 8.6 (95%IC 4.0-18.4)], and to epoxy resins [OR 12.7 (95%IC 6.1–26.4)]. Sensitization to chromate decreased significantly after 2004, following EU regulation of chromate content in concrete, while sensitization to epoxy resins and thiurams increased. The overall incidence of occupational contact dermatitis in CWs decreased significantly. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of EU regulations in reducing chromate sensitization in CWs and the overall incidence of occupational contact dermatitis. However, sensitization to other haptens is increasing, though improvement of protective measures is compulsory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mechanics are at higher risk to develop occupational skin diseases from exposure to irritants, oils, greases, preservatives, and metals. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate contact dermatitis in mechanics who underwent patch test in Northeastern Italy and compare them with white-collar workers (WCW). Subjects and Methods: From 1996 to 2016, 27,381 patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis were patch tested in Northeastern Italy; in this group, 1270 mechanics were studied. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI), adjusted by age and sex, were calculated assuming WCW as the reference category (n = 6933). Results: Mechanics represented 4.6% of the population tested. Their mean ± SD age was 36.1 ± 11.2 years. Compared with WCW, they were found to have an increased risk of occupational dermatitis (OR = 14.4; 95% CI = 11.6–18) and hand/forearm dermatitis (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 2.3–2.9). They presented an increased risk of sensitization to epoxy resin (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.5–4.8), to thiurams (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.5–3.8), to 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.1–3.4), and to diaminodiphenylmethane (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1–2.5). Conclusions: Compared to WCW, mechanics were found to be at higher risk to develop occupational contact dermatitis, associated mainly to sensitization to epoxy resin and rubber accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]