Skin physiological changes in employees in the fish processing industry immediately following work. A field study

Abstract

In order to explain the complaints of dry skin after work among employees in the fish processing industry, we followed the skin blood flow (SBF), skin surface temperature, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and electrical capacitance on the volar aspect of the 3rd finger in 10 fillet workers, where measurements were performed just at the end of a working day and during the next hour. The results were compared with 10 normal controls. During work, a low SBF, temperature and TEWL, and a high capacitance were found. After work, the SBF, temperature and TEWL increased to values above normal within 10-15 min, while the electrical capacitance decreased to subnormal values. A positive relation was demonstrated between skin temperature and TEWL, negative relations between temperature and capacitance, and between capacitance and TEWL. Our results in this field study confirm our clinical findings among workers in the fish processing industry: low occurrence of chapping and eczema during work and the development of dry skin after work.