Effectiveness of a hand care regimen with moisturizer in manufacturing facilities where workers are prone to occupational irritant dermatitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Limited information documents the prevention and treatment benefits of a hand care regimen using moisturizer in a controlled manner for employees in typical manufacturing situations.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective was to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive skin care program including skin conditioning lotion in multiple manufacturing environments where employees are at high risk for skin disease.

METHODS:

A randomized trial test design with multiple measures, including skin bioengineering measurement techniques, visual grading, and self-assessment questionnaires, was used to broadly characterize skin condition.

RESULTS:

Comparison of the change in the skin condition of workers using the full hand care regimen with moisturizer versus a control group using a regimen without moisturizer demonstrated significant (p < .05) improvements in multiple measures after 1 to 2 weeks. Corneometer readings consistently showed significant improvement for employees using moisturizer, regardless of their work location.

CONCLUSION:

Improved skin condition resulted from the regular use of an effective skin conditioning hand moisturizer as part of a skin care regimen in work environments in which workers were prone to experiencing occupational irritant contact dermatitis.

• Authors: James W Arbogast, Eleanor J Fendler, Brian S Hammond, Todd J Cartner, Michael D Dolan, Yusuf Ali, Howard I Maibach
• Journal: Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug (Dermatitis) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. 10-7 (Mar 2004) ISSN: 1710-3568 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15573643 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Emollients

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Dermatitis, Occupational (drug therapy, pathology)
• Emollients (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Hand Dermatoses (drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome