[Hand eczema and wet work]

Occupational hand eczema (HE) has continuously been the most frequently recognised occupational disease, comprising > 95% of all recognised occupational skin diseases. Irritant contact dermatitis constitutes > 70%, where wet work is the main eliciting factor. Knowledge on the dose-response relationship between wet work and HE is pivotal concerning preventive interventions, job counselling and medico-legal regulations, which is summarised in this review. New findings indicate a significant risk of having HE at an exposure level of no more than 30 minutes of wet work per day.

Dermatological evaluation of counter irritant effect of methanol leaf extract of Rumexvesicarius Linn. in rabbits

OBJECTIVE

To assess the counter-irritant and anti-inflammatory activity of Rumexvesicarius in dermatological use.

METHODS

The animal-based experimental study was conducted at the Royal Institute of Medical Sciences, Multan, Pakistan, in November 2014. Sodium lauryl sulfate, phenol, histamine and sandpaper irritation models were used. Irritation was induced by the clockwise frictional movement of fine sandpaper to the ear of rabbits and then applying sodium lauryl sulfate, histamine and phenol single topical application onto the ear of the rabbit. The counter-irritant effect was determined by calculating the mean decrease in redness and erythema with those of control and standard dexamethasone.

RESULTS

There were 20 rabbits in the study with a mean weight of 1.50±0.033 kg. R. vesicarius (100 and 150mg/mL) showed excellent counter-irritant effect when compared with control and standard groups. Both the doses depicted counter-irritant effect with the highest inhibition (94.42%) in sandpaper group, followed by sodium lauryl sulphate (90%), phenol (94.23%) and histamine (88.46%) irritation models respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Methanol leaf extract of R. vesicarius countered the effect of irritation in experimental animals. It showed significant effect in terms of dose and counter-irritancy time.

Hand dermatitis and nail disorders of the workplace

Dermatitis and nail bed disorders form a large percentage of occupational conditions that affect the hands. This article briefly discusses some of the more common causes and presentations of these conditions. Most of these of the conditions can occur in the workplace and outside of it, so a careful evaluation is necessary to determine the work relatedness of a given condition.

Phytodermatitis

BACKGROUND

Most dermatologists can recognize the classic patterns of presentation of plant contact dermatitis; however, few can recognize the offending plants or know the name and chemical structure of the allergens or irritants that they contain.

OBJECTIVE

Five basic clinical patterns of phytodermatitis are reviewed: 1) allergic phytodermatitis, 2) photophytodermatitis, 3) irritant contact dermatitis, 4) pharmacologic injury, and 5) mechanical injury. The plants responsible for each pattern are presented by families, according to current scientific taxonomy. The chemical structure of the offending substances is described, and principles of investigation, prevention, and treatment are outlined.

CONCLUSIONS

Plant contact dermatitis remains an extremely vast and complex topic. Exotic plants and woods are now present in our gardens and homes. The newfound interest in aromatherapy, phytotherapy, and so-called "natural" therapies is the cause of a tremendous increase in exposure to plant products and extracts. This is responsible for the appearance of atypical patterns of plant contact dermatitis with which the practising dermatologist must become familiar.

Occupational irritant contact dermatitis and fungal infection in construction workers

We have examined 6 construction workers who developed chronic skin diseases on their hands over a period of 15 years (1970-1985). 4 developed a Trichophyton rubrum infection, and the other 2 an irritant contact dermatitis. All of them carried out jobs which caused traumatization of the skin, due to the presence of ethylene glycol and mineral oils during operation of pneumatic hammers in winter. They also suffered other types of skin trauma during their work. Construction workers may be at risk of developing an occupational skin disease involving fungal infection.

Betamethasone: A dermatological clinical evaluation

The purpose of this study was to determine under carefully controlled clinical conditions the relative anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic action of betamethasone as compared with prednisone and a placebo. A total of 130 consecutive patients with atopic dermatitis, primary irritant dermatitis, nummular eczema, allergic eczematous contact dermatitis, sweat retention, seborrheic dermatitis and pruritus were selected for study. Under the conditions of this clinical trial, the samples indicated a difference in anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic response to the therapeutic agents used. The difference between betamethasone and the placebo was highly significant, and the difference in these measured responses was studied on the basis of a careful evaluation and statistically. The result of this study corroborates statistically our clinical impression regarding the therapeutic effect of betamethasone.