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Document ID (ISN)78601
CIS number 02-661
ISSN - Serial title 0105-1873 - Contact Dermatitis
Year 2000
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Meding B.
Title Differences between the sexes with regard to work-related skin disease
Bibliographic information Aug. 2000, Vol.43, No.2, p.65-71. Illus. 41 ref.
Abstract In most countries, reports of skin disease are more frequent for women than for men. Epidemiological studies of hand eczema also show that women, in particular young women, are more often affected than men. Experimental studies of skin irritation have not confirmed differences between the sexes; thus, the higher prevalence of irritant contact dermatitis among women is most likely due to exposure. The most common type of hand eczema is irritant contact dermatitis, which is often caused by wet work encountered in many female-dominated occupations such as hairdressing, catering, cleaning and health-care. These occupations are also high-risk occupations for hand eczema. Nickel allergy is the most common contact allergy, which is most frequent in young women through contact with jewelry, and in 30-40% of cases gives rise to hand eczema. Preventive efforts should aim at reducing wet exposure.
Descriptors (primary) skin diseases; sex-linked differences; women
Descriptors (secondary) literature survey; irritants; nickel; skin allergies; dermatitis; sensitization; cleaning; limitation of exposure; health care personnel; hotel industry; hairdressing; eczema
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceSweden
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Skin diseases