Skin diseases in healthcare workers include dermatitis, allergic sensitization, infections such as herpes, and skin cancer. Skin disease and hand injuries make up one of the largest categories of occupational illnesses. In the healthcare field, the risk for hospital workers of contracting a disease of the skin is about 1.5 times greater than that for all workers. The Dermatitis Dilemma Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that occurs when an irritating substance comes into contact with the skin, dissolving the protective fats or keratin protein layer on the skin, dehydrating the skin, or killing skin cells. Areas of irritated skin may be red, swollen, tender, hot, painful, or itchy.
Skin affected for several, weeks tends to thicken and change to a deeper color.
Nearly 2 million of the 8 million healthcare workers in the US are affected by dermatitis. In addition, there has been relatively little research to evaluate causes of occupational dermatitis, identify high-risk occupations, develop interventions to protect workers, or assist workers who have developed skin diseases. Ironically, one of the causes of dermatitis may be traced to handwashing. While handwashing controls cross-contamination and infections, overly aggressive handwashing, improper use of hand care products, and improper hand drying may result in irritant and allergic dermatitis. In addition, harsh scrubbing can abrade the thin epidermal layer, leaving skin vulnerable to chemicals and other allergens.