Dermatitis and other skin disorders
Summary
Occupational skin disease may be defined as any disorder of the skin which is caused by or made worse by work or any workplace activity.
- The 2006/07 Self-reported Work-related Illness survey estimated that there were 29 000 people with "skin problems" which they believed to be work-related.
- There were over 3500 cases of occupational skin disease in 2006 reported by dermatologists and occupational physicians reporting in the THOR (EPIDERM and OPRA) network.
- Of these, 2395 (68%) were contact dermatitis and 760 (21%) – most of the remainder – were skin cancers.
- Statistical modelling by the University of Manchester showed statistically significant downward tends in the incidence of both contact dermatitis and all skin disease cases over the period 1996-2006 after taking account of certain factors which affect the annual estimates based on THOR.
- During 2004-2006, the most common agents cited by dermatologists and occupational physicians as causes of skin disease were "soaps and cleaners", "rubber chemicals and materials", "wet work", and "personal protective equipment (PPE)".
- The occupations with the highest estimated incidence rates in 2004-2006 according to dermatologists reporting to EPIDERM, were, "floral arrangers and florists", "hairdressers and barbers"; "rubber process operatives"; "glass and ceramics process operatives" and "beauticians and related occupations".
- The industrial sector with the highest estimated incidence rates in 2004-2006 according to dermatologists reporting to EPIDERM, was "other service activities".