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. 2022 Apr;86(4):782-790.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.042. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Occupational contact dermatitis: Retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001 to 2016

Joel G DeKoven  1 , Benjamin M DeKoven  2 , Erin M Warshaw  3 , C G T Mathias  4 , James S Taylor  5 , Denis Sasseville  6 , Donald V Belsito  7 , Joseph F Fowler Jr  8 , Melanie D Pratt  9 , Kathryn A Zug  10 , Howard I Maibach  11 , Vincent A DeLeo  12 , Jonathan I Silverberg  13 , Amber R Atwater  14 , Margo J Reeder  15 , D Linn Holness  2
Affiliations

Occupational contact dermatitis: Retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001 to 2016

Joel G DeKoven et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Patch testing is an important diagnostic tool for suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in occupational settings.

Objective: Provide an overview of occupational skin disease (OSD) and an analysis of occupational ACD in North American patients undergoing patch testing between 2001and 2016.

Methods: Patients with OSD were analyzed for frequency of allergic reactions to a screening series of allergens, occupational relevance, location of skin disease, and exposure sources. Demographic, occupation, and industry information were recorded.

Results: Of 38,614 patients evaluated, 4471 (11.6%) had OSD, of whom 3150 (70.5%) had ACD. The most common occupationally related allergens included rubber accelerators, preservatives, and bisphenol A epoxy resin. Hands (75.8%), arms (30.0%), and face (15.9%) were common sites of dermatitis. The occupations most affected were service workers and machine operators.

Limitations: Our cohort may not reflect the general working population.

Conclusion: This study identified common occupational allergens, exposure sources, and occupations/industries at risk. This information may help the clinician evaluate and manage patients with occupational contact dermatitis.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; contact allergy; occupational; occupational allergic contact dermatitis; occupational irritant contact dermatitis; occupational skin disease; patch tests; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest Dr Warshaw has received an investigator-initiated grant from Wen by Chaz Dean and served as a consultant for Wen by Chaz Dean and Noven Pharmaceuticals. Dr Atwater received a Pfizer Independent Grant for Learning & Change and has consulted for Henkel. Dr Sasseville receives royalties from UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer Health). Dr Taylor owns non-controlling shares of stock in AstraZeneca, Cigna, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Opko Health and he has consulted for Kao Brands and Monsanto (Bayer), is a member of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Steering Committee, and has a nondependent child employed by Pfizer. Drs J DeKoven, Mathias, Belsito, Fowler, Pratt, Zug, Maibach, DeLeo, Silverberg, Reeder, and Holness, and Author B DeKoven have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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