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Comparative Study
. 2026 Feb;94(2):125-136.
doi: 10.1111/cod.70041. Epub 2025 Nov 12.

Epidemiological Comparative Study on Contact Sensitisations in Woodworkers With Occupational Dermatitis: Patch Test Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 1999 to 2023

Luisa Heizmann  1 , Steffen Schubert  2 , Andrea Bauer  3 , Detlef Becker  4 , Knut Brockow  5 , Heinrich Dickel  6 , Birger Kränke  7 , Claudia Lang  8   9 , Eva Oppel  10 , Nicola Wagner  11 , Elke Weisshaar  12 , David Wilfinger  13 , Richard Brans  1   14 ; IVDK
Collaborators, Affiliations
Comparative Study

Epidemiological Comparative Study on Contact Sensitisations in Woodworkers With Occupational Dermatitis: Patch Test Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 1999 to 2023

Luisa Heizmann et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2026 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Woodworkers (WW) are exposed to a wide range of occupational hazards and potent allergens.

Objectives: To describe the contact sensitisation pattern of WW with occupational dermatitis (OD).

Methods: In a retrospective study, patch test and clinical data collected by the Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) from 1999 to 2023 were analysed. Data of 471 WW with OD (89.6% male) were compared with data of 558 WW without OD and 39 759 patients from other occupational groups (non-WW) with OD.

Results: Allergic contact dermatitis (32.5%) was the most frequent diagnosis among WW with OD. Hands (63.5%) were predominantly involved. Face dermatitis (8.5%) and dust exposure (36.6%) as contributing factors were significantly more common than in non-WW with OD. Sensitisations to epoxy resin (5.5%) were significantly more frequent in male WW with OD than in male WW without OD. Other frequent sensitisations included those to Myroxylon pereirae (7.4%), propolis (5.6%), and colophonium (5.3%). Sensitisations to chromium, cobalt, thiuram mix, fragrance mix II and compositae mix II were significantly less frequent than in male non-WW patients with OD.

Conclusions: Allergic contact dermatitis is frequent in WW with OD. Important allergens include resins and plant-derived substances. Airborne OD may interfere with prevention efforts.

Keywords: airborne; allergic contact dermatitis; colophonium; epoxy resin; hand dermatitis; occupational; patch test; woodworkers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The IVDK, maintained by the IVDK e.V., of which S.S. is an employee, is sponsored by the chemical, cosmetic and fragrance industry (associations) as well as by public funds. For details, see http://ivdk.org/en/sponsors/. D.B. has received honoraria for lectures from Novartis and Pfizer. R.B. has received honoraria for lectures and participation in advisory boards from LEO Pharma. H.D. is an investigator, consultant and/or speaker for Almirall Hermal, Stallergenes, LEO Pharma, Sanofi‐Aventis and Novartis Pharma. N.W. has received honoraria for lectures and advisory boards from ALK‐Abelló, LEO Pharma, Novartis Pharma, Takeda, Blueprint, CSL‐Behring, Biocryst, Synlab, Nutricia and was or is involved in clinical trials of Novartis Pharma, Sanofi, Blueprint, and Allakos. She received study grants from Novartis Pharma and Allergopharma. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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