Contact dermatitis in the United States: epidemiology, economic impact, and workplace prevention.

Contact dermatitis in the United States poses a significant public health concern. This article provides a definition of contact dermatitis and its associated risk factors. The authors discuss the epidemiology of occupational contact dermatitis including its incidence and prevalence, and describe how estimates are calculated in the United States. The burden of disease on the individual, and its economic impact and cost to society, are also elucidated. A review of preventive measures to help reduce contact dermatitis in the workplace and an additional section on patch testing concludes the article.