Occupational Contact Dermatitis: Retrospective Analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001 to 2016

Provide an overview of occupational skin disease (OSD) and analysis of occupational ACD in North American patients undergoing patch-testing 2001-2016.

Methods: Patients with OSD were analyzed for frequency of allergic reactions to a screening series of allergens, occupational relevance, location of skin disease, and exposure sources. Demographic and occupation/industry information was recorded.

Results: Of 38,614 patients evaluated, 4471 (11.6%) had OSD, of whom 3150 (70.5%) had ACD. The most common occupationally related allergens included rubber accelerators, preservatives and bisphenol A epoxy resin. Hands (75.8%), arms (30.0%) and face (15.9%) were common sites of dermatitis.. The most affected occupations were service workers and machine operators.

Limitations: Our cohort may not reflect the general working population.

Conclusion: This study identified common occupational allergens, exposure sources, and occupations/industries at risk. This information may help the clinician evaluate and manage patients with occupational contact dermatitis