Occupational Skin Dermatitis among Healthcare Workers Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Literature.

The skin is the outermost layer of the human body and is continually exposed to numerous external stimuli, which can cause unwanted skin irritation. Occupational skin diseases are the most prevalent form of work-related illness and are found in a variety of sectors, particularly healthcare. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals experienced a variety of unexpected, unusual occupational skin diseases associated with COVID-19-engaged employment. Because the clinical characteristics of these types of skin inflammation are unique, this review focuses on the characteristics of a large category of occupational workers, namely COVID-19-engaged healthcare professionals. Furthermore, we examined the potential pathogeneses of occupational skin disorders associated with COVID-19-engaged labor, as well as different preventative methods.

Novel insights into contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is a common disease that is caused by repeated skin contact with contact allergens or irritants, resulting in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and/or irritant contact dermatitis. Attempts have been made to identify biomarkers to distinguish irritant and allergic patch test reactions, which could aid diagnosis. Some promising candidates have recently been identified, but verification and validation in clinical cases still need to be done. New causes of ACD are constantly being recognized. In this review, 10 new contact allergens from recent years, several relating to anti-aging products, have been identified. Frequent allergens causing considerable morbidity in the population, such as the preservative methylisothiazolinone, have been regulated in the European Union. A significant drop in the number of cases has been seen, whereas high rates are still occurring in other areas such as North America. Other frequent causes are fragrance allergens, especially the widely used terpenes and acrylates found in medical devices for control of diabetes. These represent unsolved problems. Recent advances in immunology have opened the way for a better understanding of the complexity of contact dermatitis, especially ACD-a disease that may be more heterogenous that previous understood, with several subtypes. With the rapidly evolving molecular understanding of ACD, the potential for development of new drugs for personalized treatment of contact dermatitis is considerable.

Causes of irritant contact dermatitis after occupational skin exposure: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is a major cause of occupational disease. The aim was to review the relation between exposure to occupational irritants and ICD and the prognosis of ICD. METHODS: Through a systematic search, 1516 titles were identified, and 48 studies were included in the systematic review. RESULTS: We found that the evidence for an association between ICD and occupational irritants was strong for wet work, moderate for detergents and non-alcoholic disinfectants, and strong for a combination. The highest quality studies provided limited evidence for an association with use of occlusive gloves without other exposures and moderate evidence with simultaneous exposure to other wet work irritants. The evidence for an association between minor ICD and exposure to metalworking fluids was moderate. Regarding mechanical exposures, the literature was scarce and the evidence limited. We found that the prognosis for complete healing of ICD is poor, but improves after decrease of exposure through change of occupation or work tasks. There was no substantial evidence for an influence of gender, age, or household exposures. Inclusion of atopic dermatitis in the analysis did not alter the risk of ICD. Studies were at risk of bias, mainly due to selection and misclassification of exposure and outcome. This may have attenuated the results. CONCLUSION: This review reports strong evidence for an association between ICD and a combination of exposure to wet work and non-alcoholic disinfectants, moderate for metalworking fluids, limited for mechanical and glove exposure, and a strong evidence for a poor prognosis of ICD.

Peristomal Moisture-Associated Skin Damage and Independence in Pouching System Changes in Persons With New Fecal Ostomies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to peristomal moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) in patients who underwent ostomy surgery because of colorectal cancer, and their independence in pouching system changes. Findings were used to determine pre- and postsurgical care for these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical records. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study setting was an 800-bed hospital in metropolitan Tokyo, Japan. The sample comprised 89 patients (median age: 65 years; male vs female: 58 vs 31) who visited a stoma clinic within 8 weeks of ostomy surgery. Fifty-two subjects had ileostomies and 37 had colostomies; data were collected between January 2008 and July 2014. METHODS: Data were collected from outpatient and inpatient records. Potential relationships between MASD and independence in pouching system changes were evaluated via univariate tests to identify possible associations, followed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients living with an ileostomy were more likely to experience peristomal MASD than were patients living with a colostomy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.782; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-10.64; P = .012). Analysis also found that patients with postsurgical chemotherapy were more than 2.5 times more likely to experience peristomal MASD than patients who did not require postoperative chemotherapy (OR = 2.702; 95% CI: 1.02-7.18; P = .046). We also found that patients 65 years or older were significantly more likely to have difficulty in changing their pouching system than were younger patients (OR = 7.193; 95% CI: 2.21-23.41; P = .001), as were those with diabetes mellitus (OR = 11.842; 95% CI: 2.56-54.77; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing ileostomy and those receiving postoperative chemotherapy are more likely to experience peristomal MASD. Older patients (>65 years) and those with diabetes mellitus are less likely to achieve independence. These findings influenced our management of persons undergoing ostomy surgery for management of colorectal cancer in our clinic. We recommend additional research using a larger and more diverse sample to confirm our findings.

Dermatitis de contacto alérgica aerotransportada por aceite de neem / Airborne Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by Neem Oil

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Ophthalmic manifestations of Paederus dermatitis.

PURPOSE: To report the pattern of ophthalmic manifestations associated with Paederus dermatitis (PD). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, India. DESIGN: Clinic-based retrospective study. METHODS: Medical charts of patients presenting to the eye clinic with clinical features consistent with the diagnosis of PD from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant demographic and clinical data of periocular and ocular findings were collected and analyzed. The patients with a history of chronic skin disorders or allergies were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included in the study, of which 39 (69.6 %) were males. The age range was 4-65 years with a median of 27 years. On presentation, common subjective symptoms were burning sensation in 49 (87.5 %), itching in 37 (66.1 %), watering in 25 (44.6 %), foreign body sensation in 19 (33.9 %), blurring of vision in 17 (30.4 %), and photophobia in 12 (21.4 %) patients. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/20 in 39 (69.6 %) patients, between 20/30 and 20/80 in 9 (16.1 %) patients, and less than 20/80 in 8 (14.3 %) patients. Lid swelling, erythema, crusts, and vesicles were the common periocular findings; and conjunctival hyperemia, discharge, and corneal erosions were the common ocular findings. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that PD can cause significant ocular morbidity. Ophthalmologists, especially those who work in endemic areas, should be aware of this entity both in terms of management as well as for educating patients about the preventive measures.

Experiencia inicial con oxibutinina transdérmica en el tratamiento de la hiperhidrosis / Preliminary experience with transdermal oxybutynin patches for hyperhidrosis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La hiperhidrosis (HH) es una condición muy prevalente que supone una repercusión importante en la calidad de vida. Entre las opciones terapéuticas disponibles, la oxibutinina oral consigue buenas tasas de respuesta aunque con frecuentes efectos secundarios que condicionan en muchas ocasiones el abandono del tratamiento. Tras la comercialización en nuestro país de la oxibutinina en presentación transdérmica, realizamos un estudio preliminar para valorar el control de la HH y el perfil de efectos secundarios de este tratamiento. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con 25 pacientes que recibieron tratamiento con 2 parches semanales de oxibutinina transdérmica durante 10 semanas. La respuesta terapéutica se valoró mediante 2 escalas subjetivas: Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) y escala analógica visual (EAV). RESULTADOS: Un 60% de los pacientes consiguieron una reducción en la puntuación de la HDSS. Todos los casos obtuvieron una disminución en la puntuación de la EAV, siendo esta de 3 puntos o superior en el 68% de los pacientes. Solo 2 pacientes (8%) presentaron efectos adversos relacionados con el tratamiento, en ambos casos en forma de dermatitis irritativa en la zona de aplicación del parche. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque se trata de una experiencia limitada, los resultados de nuestro estudio sugieren que la oxibutinina transdérmica podría tener utilidad en el manejo de la HH, con un excelente perfil de seguridad y tolerancia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hyperhidrosis is very common and has a considerable impact on patients' quality of life. While oral oxybutynin is associated with good response rates, adverse effects are common and frequently cause patients to stop treatment. Following the recent launch of oxybutynin in a transdermal patch formulation in Spain, we undertook a preliminary study to assess treatment response and adverse effects in patients with hyperhidrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study of 25 patients treated twice weekly with transdermal oxybutynin patches over 10 weeks assessed treatment response on 2 subjective scales: the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for sweating. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients showed an improvement in HDSS scores. VAS scores improved in all cases, and 68% of patients achieved a reduction of 3 points or more. Just 2 patients (8%) experienced treatment-related adverse effects (irritant dermatitis at the patch application site in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: Although our results are based on a small sample, they suggest that transdermal oxybutynin could be a useful option for the treatment of hyperhidrosis and that it has an excellent safety and tolerability profile

Cutaneous hypersensitivity to gluten.

We enrolled 14 female patients (aged 12-60 years) affected by celiac disease (confirmed by duodenal biopsy), presenting dermatologic eczematous lesions involving their face, neck, and overall arms, after application of gluten-containing emollient cream, bath, or face powder, or after contact with foods containing wheat and durum wheat. Five patients resulted positive to patch-by-patch with wheat and durum wheat (mild to moderate positivity) with erythema and vesicles, in correspondence of their sites of application. Utilizing gluten-free cream and bath, and wearing gloves before hand contact with food-containing wheat, in their common life, these patients showed an improvement of their cutaneous lesions and no relapses of dermatitis for a 6-month follow-up period.

Contact dermatitis in atopic individuals.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Both atopy and diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema are among the most frequent clinical problems worldwide; nevertheless, they are still poorly defined and too frequently misdiagnosed. In the present review, studies pertinent to this topic were systematized and critically assessed with particular attention to definitions of relevant diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: The overall message from the research done to date is that various types of dermatitis frequently coexist. Atopy and contact allergy seem independent, while there is insufficient data to state upon the relationship between atopy and allergic contact dermatitis. Furthermore, it seems at present that atopy does not, whereas atopic eczema does constitute a risk factor for irritant contact dermatitis. SUMMARY: The interplay between atopy and diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema is not fully understood; nevertheless, their coexistence and overlapping are not rare. Therefore, every patient with eczema - regardless of age, sex or atopic status - should undergo an extensive diagnostic programme including each atopic eczema, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and protein contact dermatitis. Better definitions and well designed studies are necessary to achieve detailed information on the complex relationships between each atopy, atopic eczema, and the three contact dermatitides.

Fire-retardant clothing-related dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Several laborers in a refinery unit undergoing a work over noted skin eruptions. Signs and symptoms included erythema, pruritus, scaling, and perifollicular inflammation on skin contacted by fire-retardant clothing (FRC). OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this report were to show a correlation between this rash outbreak and the use of FRC, to report the investigative results as to what aspect of the FRC most likely caused the dermatitis, and to present how this outbreak was ended. METHODS: Employees received questionnaires, were examined, and received patch testing, and pH testing of FRC was performed to evaluate the causative factors. RESULTS: More than 100 workers reported a rash, and approximately a third of these individuals exhibited a unique rash. There was a trend toward Hispanic and white workers being more affected than black workers. The onset of the rash peaked from June to August. This FRC-related rash resolved with the use of manufacturer-recommended laundering procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The FRC-associated eruption was most likely a form of irritant contact dermatitis due to inadequate laundering procedures. The most effective preventative measure other than proper laundering was the use of underclothing to prevent contact of FRC with sweat-moistened skin.

Repeated topical application of glucocorticoids augments irritant chemical-triggered scratching in mice.

Topical glucocorticoids, widely used for the treatment of a variety of dermatitises, are known to exacerbate atopic dermatitis after long-term or inappropriate use. In some animal models, topical glucocorticoids augment the allergic cutaneous inflammation after repeated application, suggesting a relationship between these and clinical observations. We investigated whether topical glucocorticoids augment itching, rather than inflammation, resulting in the exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. Mice receiving repeated topical application of glucocorticoids, betamethasone valerate or dexamethasone, to the ear for 1 week showed significantly higher scratching frequency after application of an irritant chemical, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) or 12-O-tetradecanoilphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) than those receiving either a glucocorticoid or irritant chemical alone. In contrast, the increase in ear thickness induced by application of TPA was significantly suppressed by dexamethasone. Substance P (SP) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were higher in the ear receiving betamethasone valerate followed by DNFB application than in that receiving DNFB alone. In addition, histopathological studies revealed an increased density of nerve fibers in the ear receiving betamethasone valerate or dexamethasone followed by DNFB application. Oral administration of betamethasone valerate was not associated with an increase in either scratching frequency or SP or NGF level in the ear. These results suggest that repeated topical application of glucocorticoids may augment irritant chemical-triggered scratching through an increase in SP and NGF levels and nerve fiber density at the application site. These findings might explain the etiology of the exacerbation of atopic dermatitis and other dermatitises, occurring after long-term or inappropriate use of topical glucocorticoids.

Dermatitis de contacto a acrilatos en una industria de fabricación de ascensores. A propósito de 8 casos / Contact Dermatitis Caused by Acrylates Among 8 Workers in an Elevator Factory

Introducción: Los acrilatos son sustancias químicas de bajo peso molecular, con una amplia utilización en la industria (desde su introducción en los años treinta), la medicina y el medio doméstico, que destacan por sus propiedades de polimerización. Los compuestos acrílicos más utilizados son los cianoacrilatos, los metacrilatos y los acrilatos. Objetivo: Establecer el diagnóstico de sospecha de enfermedad profesional en un grupo de trabajadores de una fábrica de ascensores. Material y métodos: Se estudian un total de 8 pacientes que presentan clínica de dermatitis en las manos, así como pulpitis en los dedos, y que trabajan en contacto con acrilatos. Se realizaron pruebas epicutáneas con batería de acrilatos (BIAL-Aristegui, Bilbao, España). Resultados: El 87,5% mostró positividad frente al dimetacrilato de etilenglicol al 1%. También mostraron positividad el hidroxietilmetacrilato al 2% (62,5%), el dimetacrilato de trietilenglicol al 1% (50%), el monómero de metil metacrilato al 10% (25%) y el monómero de etil metacrilato al 10% (37,5%), el acrilato de etilo al 1% (12,5%) y el ácido acrílico al 0,1% (12,5%). Conclusiones: Destacamos el alto poder sensibilizante de los acrilatos y la importancia de extremar las medidas preventivas en las distintas industrias, así como la evitación del contacto con el producto en los casos de sensibilización demostrada (AU)

Introduction: Acrylates are widely used low-molecular-weight substances, initially introduced in industry in the 1930s and subsequently applied also in medicine and the home. One of their main features is the ability to undergo polymerization. The most commonly used acrylic compounds are cyanoacrylates, methacrylates, and acrylates. Objective: To confirm suspicion of occupational disease in a group of workers in an elevator factory. Material and methods: We studied 8 patients with dermatitis of the hands and finger pads. In their work, the patients came into contact with acrylates. Patch testing was applied with an acrylate panel (BIAL-Aristegui, Bilbao, Spain). Results: Seven of the patients (87.5%) had a positive result with 1% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Positive results were also observed for 2% hydroxyethyl methacrylate (5 patients, 62.5%), 1% triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (4 patients, 50%), 10% ethyl methacrylate monomer (3 patients, 37.5%), 10% methyl methacrylate monomer (2 patients, 25%), 1% ethyl acrylate (1 patient, 12.5%), and 0.1% acrylic acid (1 patient, 12.5%). Conclusions: We highlight the strong sensitizing capacity of acrylates and the importance of taking all necessary preventive measures in industries where these substances are used. Such measures should include avoidance of contact with the product in cases where sensitization has been confirmed (AU)

Patients with vulval pruritus: patch test results.

BACKGROUND: Persistent vulval pruritus is a frequent problem and patients may not show signs of a primary vulval dermatosis. Allergic contact sensitivity is an important factor in such patients but may also occur as a secondary event in women with vulval dermatoses. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe women with vulval pruritus who were evaluated for vulval dermatoses. We patch tested to help define or exclude allergens. METHODS: In a 3-year period, 50 women with vulval pruritus were examined for existence of vulval dermatosis. All the patients were patch tested to the European Baseline Series, medicaments, preservatives, vehicles, cosmetics and products they routinely used. RESULTS: Ages of the patients ranged from 22 to 62 years (mean 39.9 +/- 9 years) and duration of the diseases ranged from 0.5-360 months (mean 56.1 +/- 65.6 months). 52% of the women had at least 1 positive patch test. 8 patients (16%) had 1 or more relevant allergic positive reactions. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments. CONCLUSIONS: Women with vulval pruritus were patch tested to help define or rule our allergens. Contact allergy incidence in these patients is high. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments.

Differential cytokine expression in skin after single and repeated irritation by sodium lauryl sulphate.

In vivo levels of cytokines and presence of neutrophils and eosinophils in skin irritation are not well known. Our objective was to get more insight in inflammatory mediators and markers involved in single and repeated skin irritation. We sampled epidermis-derived fluid using a novel technology that includes application of a negative pressure on the skin after creation of micropores in the stratum corneum by a laser. In nine volunteers, transdermal fluid was sampled after a single 4-h 10% sodium lauryl sulphate exposure and a repeated 3-week exposure (0.1% sodium lauryl sulphate). Twenty-seven cytokines were assessed by multiplex assay, and IL-1alpha, eosinophil cationic protein and myeloperoxidase by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of eosinophil cationic protein were increased after irritation and correlated with levels of myeloperoxidase. The levels of inflammatory mediators showed large interindividual differences in unexposed and exposed skin. Despite this variation, several mediators clearly showed increased levels: CC chemokine ligand (CCL)11, CXCL10 and vascular endothelial growth factor after both single and repeated exposure, IL-1alpha and basic fibroblast growth factor after single exposure and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) after repeated exposure. After repeated exposure, CCL5 and the ratio IL-1RA/IL-1alpha both increased compared with single exposure. We conclude that single and repeated irritation induces differential and concerted expression of various inflammatory mediators and markers.