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Evaluation of Skin Barrier Condition Among Physicians and Dentists.
- Source :
-
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug [Dermatitis] 2024 Jan-Feb; Vol. 35 (1), pp. 70-76. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 07. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Physicians and dentists are at risk for chronic hand eczema, but their skin barrier condition has rarely been investigated before. Objective: To objectively assess the skin barrier condition among physicians and dentists. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study included an occupational questionnaire, medical examination of hand skin, skin transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and pH measurements, analyzed in 5 groups (N = 37 in each): physicians-nonsurgeons, physicians-surgeons, dentists-nonsurgeons, dentists-surgeons, and control group (unexposed workers). Results: Critical skin condition (TEWL >30 g/[m <superscript>2</superscript> ·h]) was found in 14% of control workers, 14% physicians nonsurgeons, 22% physicians surgeons, 27% dentists nonsurgeons, and 43% dentists surgeons. The latter had the worst stratum corneum condition indicated by a TEWL median of 25.80 g/(m <superscript>2</superscript> ·h) (interquartile range [IQR] 19.24-34.31). Hand skin pH was highest among dentists with nonsurgical specializations, with a median of 5.33 (IQR 5.15-5.60), where 38% of them had pH >5.5. Male sex ( P < 0.001) and glove use for >1 h/day ( P = 0.009) were associated with elevated hand TEWL values, whereas female sex ( P < 0.001) and glove use for >4 h/day with elevated pH values ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: Prolonged glove usage and dental profession, especially surgical work, significantly affect the skin barrier condition. This study was the first to objectively determine skin barrier condition among dentists and physicians.
- Subjects :
- Humans
Male
Female
Cross-Sectional Studies
Epidermis
Water
Dentists
Skin
Physicians
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2162-5220
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37934198
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/derm.2023.0266