Occupational Dermatitis - Prevention and Treatment

Dermatitis is a common inflammatory disease of the skin, in which the affected area becomes itchy, reddened, and swollen.

Occupational contact dermatitis is referred to as eczema that’s triggered by the exposure of a person to chemicals in the workplace.

There are different causes of dermatitis, however, if the causes arise from the working environment of a person, then it’s occupational dermatitis.

Kindly note that the disease is not caused by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, therefore, it’s not contagious.

Eczema normally lasts for a short period but it can take a long time if it’s occupational dermatitis.

This is because the person is still exposed to the agents, and the control of the exposure may not be within his power.

To prevent contact dermatitis in the workplace, protective equipment should be provided and its use should be enforced.

The use of disposable non-latex hand gloves, face shields, boots should be encouraged to prevent direct contact between the skin and the chemicals.

Personal hygiene such as washing your hands, face, legs, or taking a bath after work will help in washing away any substance off your body.

After a bath, the body should be dried with a clean towel and moisturize.

In a working environment where the employees are exposed to many chemicals daily, they should go for a medical check from time to time.

Should a worker contract the skin disease, he must confirm it as soon as possible.

After your doctor has confirmed dermatitis, he will ask a series of questions and you should help to provide relevant answers.

Getting educated about the diseases will help you in controlling the symptoms and remain symptom-free for as long as possible.

If the condition is worse that you can not work, you can opt to get disability benefits from Social Security Administration (SSA) if you’re eligible.

However, studies have shown that patient’s training can help to improve the symptoms of contact dermatitis.

Giving psychological support to the patients can also help to get rid of the disease in a short period.

They will be able to control the itching, scratching, and stress.

Eczema can be worse if you already have an infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It can easily result in inflammation.

Therefore, it is important to treat such an infection properly; your doctor will recommend the appropriate treatment method and medications.

In the case of minor inflammations, you can apply creams or ointments that kill or contain the germs.

In a severe case, you may need to be on antibiotics or virus-inhibiting drugs.

In severe cases, where the inflammation spreads to the whole body, the active substances are given in the form of infusions.

Conclusion

Dermatitis is one of the commonest occupational diseases in the US.

For example, contact dermatitis is caused by craftsmen working with building materials or hairdressers using hair dyes and other chemicals.

Constant contact with water, soaps, or alkalis can also cause skin irritation and lead to dermatitis.

If you suffer from occupational dermatitis, you can work with your doctor and your employer to reduce the risks.

If it is not possible to avoid the causes, preventive methods will be employed.

Workers’ retraining can also help but if the risks can not be minimized, a change of profession may be necessary.