Summary
Occupational skin diseases are still an important problem in occupational medicine. Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is more common than allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The most hazardous substances are water and detergents for ICD and chromium VI compounds, formaldehyde, isothiazolinones, epoxy hardeners and nickel for ACD. Occupational skin diseases often have a very poor prognosis even after cessation of the hazardous work condition. Primary prevention is most effective and also secondary prevention is able to avoid a clinical severe dermatitis if the diagnosis is early and an intervention will follow. According to the recently formulated definition of occupational medicine, company physicians have also - apart from providing advice - to diagnose and treat environmental and work-related diseases.
