Birgitta Kütting1, Hans Drexler. 1. Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schillerstrasse 25/29, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. birgitta.kuetting@ipasum.uni-erlangen.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to assess the evidence of the generally recommended three-step programme of skin protection in the prevention of occupational skin disease. METHODS: The following clinical questions, representative of critical appraisal of this preventive measurement, were generated: (1) Can a skincare regimen effectively reduce or eliminate work-related poor skin conditions? (2) Do protective creams prevent harmful substances from penetrating and adhering to the skin? (3) Is the differentiation between pre-exposure and post-exposure products justified by reliable data? Answers were generated according to the method used in evidence-based medicine by searching the literature, critically appraising the results and applying the results to the clinical questions. For our search we decided to use PubMed as the most convenient access to Medline and because, in contrast to other databases, this access is available free of charge. RESULTS: To investigate the efficacy of barrier creams as pre-exposure skin protectors various in vitro and in vivo test methods have been developed. Over the past years the test techniques have been improved in order to adopt a real workplace situation. Efforts for standardisation of evaluation criteria have been made, too. Nevertheless, there is a lack of placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trials evaluating the benefit of these products in the prevention of occupational contact dermatitis under real workplace conditions. The literature data are conflicting; some publications report on the positive aspects of skin protection, whereas others stress the negative ones. CONCLUSION: Not enough data have been accumulated for one to prove the benefit of skin protection measures under real workplace condition. Up to now, it is almost unclear if the various in vitro and in vivo methods used are suitable to simulate real workplace conditions and if these test results can be related to real occupational exposure. For the evidence-based recommendation of skin protection, further studies, especially under daily working conditions evaluating the contribution of each single element of skincare programme (products, frequency of application and education programme) are needed.
OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to assess the evidence of the generally recommended three-step programme of skin protection in the prevention of occupational skin disease. METHODS: The following clinical questions, representative of critical appraisal of this preventive measurement, were generated: (1) Can a skincare regimen effectively reduce or eliminate work-related poor skin conditions? (2) Do protective creams prevent harmful substances from penetrating and adhering to the skin? (3) Is the differentiation between pre-exposure and post-exposure products justified by reliable data? Answers were generated according to the method used in evidence-based medicine by searching the literature, critically appraising the results and applying the results to the clinical questions. For our search we decided to use PubMed as the most convenient access to Medline and because, in contrast to other databases, this access is available free of charge. RESULTS: To investigate the efficacy of barrier creams as pre-exposure skin protectors various in vitro and in vivo test methods have been developed. Over the past years the test techniques have been improved in order to adopt a real workplace situation. Efforts for standardisation of evaluation criteria have been made, too. Nevertheless, there is a lack of placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trials evaluating the benefit of these products in the prevention of occupational contact dermatitis under real workplace conditions. The literature data are conflicting; some publications report on the positive aspects of skin protection, whereas others stress the negative ones. CONCLUSION: Not enough data have been accumulated for one to prove the benefit of skin protection measures under real workplace condition. Up to now, it is almost unclear if the various in vitro and in vivo methods used are suitable to simulate real workplace conditions and if these test results can be related to real occupational exposure. For the evidence-based recommendation of skin protection, further studies, especially under daily working conditions evaluating the contribution of each single element of skincare programme (products, frequency of application and education programme) are needed.
Authors: Jos H Verbeek; Frank J van Dijk; Antti Malmivaara; Carel T Hulshof; Kimmo Räsänen; Eila E Kankaanpää; Kriistina Mukala Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 5.024
Authors: Robert Winker; Bayda Salameh; Sabine Stolkovich; Michael Nikl; Alfred Barth; Elisabeth Ponocny; Hans Drexler; Gerhard Tappeiner Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2008-10-30 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Jochen Brasch; Detlef Becker; Werner Aberer; Andreas Bircher; Birger Kränke; Kirsten Jung; Bernhard Przybilla; Tilo Biedermann; Thomas Werfel; Swen Malte John; Peter Elsner; Thomas Diepgen; Axel Trautmann; Hans F Merk; Thomas Fuchs; Axel Schnuch Journal: Allergo J Int Date: 2014
Authors: J Hines; S M Wilkinson; S M John; T L Diepgen; J English; T Rustemeyer; S Wassilew; S Kezic; H I Maibach Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2016-08-22 Impact factor: 6.166