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Summary Background In occupational fields with exposure to grease, oil, metal particles, coal, black lead or soot, cleansing formulations containing abrasive bodies (e.g. refined walnut shell, corn, wood, plastic or pumice) are used. These may constitute an irritant per se. As an alternative, hydrogenated castor oil (also known as castor wax) beads have been developed as dirt-binding particles. A polar surface contributes to their mechanical cleaning effects in removal of oily grime. Objectives Standardized examination of the in vivo effects upon the skin barrier of castor wax beads in comparison with abrasive bodies and pure detergent. Methods Three cleansing preparations – (i) detergent, (ii) detergent containing castor wax beads, (iii) detergent containing walnut shell powder – were each repetitively applied in vivo (four times daily for 3 weeks), mimicking workplace conditions, in 30 healthy volunteers (15 with and 15 without an atopic skin diathesis) and compared vs. (iv) no treatment. The treatment effects upon the skin barrier were monitored by repeated measurements of functional parameters [transepidermal water loss (TEWL), redness] and surface topography. Results After a 3-week treatment, a significant global treatment effect (P

SummaryBackground It is not known whether distinct anatomical locations will respond with different recovery rates following acute barrier challenges. Objectives To investigate whether barrier parameters differ at five body sites during recovery from acute disruption. Methods Acute barrier disruption was achieved by tape stripping and by acetone extraction of stratum corneum lipids. Transepidermal water loss (to assess barrier function), capacitance (for stratum corneum hydration) and skin surface pH were measured at each of five different body sites in 14 human volunteers. Individual measurements were obtained every 24 h for 96 h. Results Lipid-rich skin areas (e.g. the forehead) were the most vulnerable to barrier disruption by either method. While acetone treatment affected barrier function and decreased stratum corneum hydration, tape stripping similarly altered barrier function but increased capacitance values. Although the effect of barrier disruption on surface pH appeared to vary with location, no significant pattern of variation emerged. Independent of the method used for barrier disruption, the pH normalized within 96 h. Conclusions Skin at different body sites shows distinct patterns of barrier recovery that are likely to be related to structural and physiological differences. Therefore, ‘anatomically specific’ regimens appear possible and relevant for the treatment of cutaneous disorders. In addition, adequate statistical analyses are essential to detect real differences in barrier recovery parameters.

Background Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) account for a large portion of occupational diseases in Europe, but population-based epidemiological studies are missing. Objectives We analysed the initial reports of OSDs in our register of OSDs in Northern Bavaria (BKH-N). Methods A total of 5285 cases were assessed prospectively and registered from 1990 to 1999. As the German Federal Employment Office provides specific occupational data in relation to the total employed population of Northern Bavaria, it was possible to conduct a population-based study that investigated the trend in incidence rates between two study periods (1990–92 and 1993–99) in 24 different occupational groups. Results A total of 3097 cases of OSD (median age 25 years) were recorded in the 24 occupational groups. There was a significant decline (P