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".