Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prognosis of Irritant Contact Dermatitis

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Book cover Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology

  • 179 Accesses

Abstract

Acute irritant contact dermatitis heals if exposure is excluded.

Chronic irritant contact dermatitis is caused by chronic exposure, and multiple factors are contributing to the prognosis.

Hand dermatitis is often multifactorial thus making it difficult to judge the prognosis of irritant dermatitis as a single factor.

A history of atopic dermatitis is an apparent negative prognostic factor.

Concurrent contact sensitivities seem to decrease chances for healing of a chronic irritant contact dermatitis.

Patient guidance and education are crucial for a favorable prognosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agner T, Andersen KE, Brandao FM et al (2008) Hand eczema severity and quality of life: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of hand eczema patients. Contact Dermatitis 59:43–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Apfelbacher CJ, Soder S, Diepgen TL, Weisshaar E (2009) The impact of measures for secondary individual prevention of work-related skin diseases in health care workers: 1-year follow-up study. Contact Dermatitis 60:144–149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bock M, Schmidt A, Bruckner T et al (2003) Occupational skin disease in the construction industry. Br J Dermatol 149:1165–1171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bourke J, Coulson I, English J (2009) Guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis: an update. Br J Dermatol 160:946–954

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brans R, Skudlik C, Weisshaar E, Scheidt R, Ofenloch R, Elsner P, Wulfhorst B, Schönfeld M, John SM, Diepgen TL (2016) ROQ study group. Multicentre cohort study ‘Rehabilitation of occupational skin diseases – optimization and quality Assurance of Inpatient Management (ROQ)’: results from a 3-year follow-up. Contact Dermatitis 75(4):205–212

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryld LE, Hindsberger C, Kyvik KO et al (2003) Risk factors influencing the development of hand eczema in a population-based twin sample. Br J Dermatol 149:1214–1220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsen BC, Menne T, Johansen JD (2007) Twenty years of standard patch testing in an eczema population with focus on patients with multiple contact allergies. Contact Dermatitis 57:76–83

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsen BC, Andersen KE, Menné T et al (2009) Sites of dermatitis in a patch test population: hand dermatitis is associated with polysensitization. Br J Dermatol 161:808–813

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cork MJ, Danby SG, Vasilopoulos Y et al (2009) Epidermal barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol 129:1892–1908

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cvetkovski RS, Rothman KJ, Olsen J et al (2005) Relation between diagnoses on severity, sick leave and loss of job among patients with occupational hand eczema. Br J Dermatol 152:93–98

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cvetkovski RS, Zachariae R, Jensen H et al (2006) Prognosis of occupational hand eczema: a follow-up study. Arch Dermatol 142:305–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Darr-Foit S, Tittelbach J, Elsner P (2014) Posttraumatic irritant contact dermatitis – an underdiagnosed entity? J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 12(4):347–348

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Groot AC, Flyvholm MA, Lensen G, Menné T, Coenraads PJ (2009) Formaldehyde-releasers: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Contact allergy to formaldehyde and inventory of formaldehyde-releasers. Contact Dermatitis 61:63–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Jongh CM, Khrenova L, Verberk MM et al (2008) Loss-of-function polymorphisms in the filaggrin gene are associated with an increased susceptibility to chronic irritant contact dermatitis: a case–control study. Br J Dermatol 159:621–627

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickel H, Bruckner TM, Schmidt A et al (2003) Impact of atopic skin diathesis on occupational skin disease incidence in a working population. J Invest Dermatol 121:37–40

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diepgen TL, Andersen KE, Brandao FM et al (2009) Hand eczema classification: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of the aetiology and morphology of hand eczema. Br J Dermatol 160:353–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ESSCA Writing Group The European Surveillance System of Contact Allergies (ESSCA) (2008) Results of patch testing the standard series, 2004. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 22:174–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Fluhr JW, Praessler J, Akengin A et al (2005a) Air flow at different temperatures increases sodium lauryl sulphate-induced barrier disruption and irritation in vivo. Br J Dermatol 152:1228–1234

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fluhr JW, Akengin A, Bornkessel A, Fuchs S, Praessler J, Norgauer J, Grieshaber R, Kleesz P, Elsner P (2005b) Additive impairment of the barrier function by mechanical irritation, occlusion and sodium lauryl sulphate in vivo. Br J Dermatol 153(1):125–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foureur N, Vanzo B, Meaume S et al (2006) Prospective aetiological study of diaper dermatitis in the elderly. Br J Dermatol 155:941–946

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler JF, Ghosh A, Sung J et al (2006) Impact of chronic hand dermatitis on quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and medical costs. J Am Acad Dermatol 54:448–457

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fregert S (1975) Occupational dermatitis in a 10-year material. Contact Dermatitis 1:96–107

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garg S, McDonagh AJ, Gawkrodger DJ (2009) Age- and sex-related variations in allergic contact dermatitis to common allergens. Contact Dermatitis 61:46–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hald M, Agner T, Blands J et al (2009a) Clinical severity and prognosis of hand eczema. Br J Dermatol 160:1229–1236

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hald M, Agner T, Blands J et al (2009b) Allergens associated with severe symptoms of hand eczema and a poor prognosis. Contact Dermatitis 61:101–108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hald M, Agner T, Blands J et al (2009c) Delay in medical attention to hand eczema: a follow-up study. Br J Dermatol 161:1294–1300

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haslund P, Bangsgaard N, Jarløv JO et al (2009) Staphylococcus aureus and hand eczema severity. Br J Dermatol 161:772–777

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heinemann C, Paschold C, Fluhr J, Wigger-Alberti W, Schliemann-Willers S, Farwanah H, Raith K, Neubert R, Elsner P (2005) Induction of a hardening phenomenon by repeated application of SLS: analysis of lipid changes in the stratum corneum. Acta Derm Venereol 85(4):290–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Held E, Skoet R, Johansen JD et al (2005) The hand eczema severity index (HECSI): a scoring system for clinical assessment of hand eczema. A study of inter- and intraobserver reliability. Br J Dermatol 152:302–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen JM, Pfeiffer S, Witt M et al (2009) Different effects of pimecrolimus and betamethasone on the skin barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 124((Suppl 2)):R19–R28

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen J, Menné T, Christophersen J et al (2000) Changes in the pattern of sensitization to common contact allergens in Denmark between 1985–86 and 1997–98, with a special view to the effect of preventive strategies. Br J Dermatol 142:490–495

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jungbauer FH, van der Vleuten P, Groothoff JW et al (2004) Irritant hand dermatitis: severity of disease, occupational exposure to skin irritants and preventive measures 5 years after initial diagnosis. Contact Dermatitis 50:245–251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keczkes K, Bhate SM, Wyatt EH (1983) The outcome of primary irritant hand dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 109:665–668

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolbe L, Kligman AM, Schreiner V, Stoudemayer T (2001) Corticosteroid-induced atrophy and barrier impairment measured by non-invasive methods in human skin. Skin Res Technol 7(2):73–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lammintausta K, Kalimo K (1981) Atopy and hand dermatitis in hospital wet work. Contact Dermatitis 7:301–308

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lammintausta K, Kalimo K, Aantaa S (1982) Course of hand dermatitis in hospital workers. Contact Dermatitis 8:327–332

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lerbaek A, Kyvik KO, Ravn H et al (2008) Clinical characteristics and consequences of hand eczema – an 8-year follow-up study of a population-based twin cohort. Contact Dermatitis 58:210–216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li LF, Liu G, Wang J (2008) Prognosis of unclassified eczema: a follow-up study. Arch Dermatol 144:160–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lips R, Rast H, Elsner P (1996) Outcome of job change in patients with occupational chromate dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 34:268–271

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mälkönen T, Jolanki R, Alanko K et al (2009) A 6-month follow-up study of 1048 patients diagnosed with an occupational skin disease. Contact Dermatitis 61:261–268

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McMullen E, Gawkrodger DJ (2006) Physical friction is under-recognized as an irritant that can cause or contribute to contact dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 154:154–156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B (1990) Epidemiology of hand eczema in an industrial city. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 153:1–43

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B (2000) Differences between the sexes with regard to work-related skin disease. Contact Dermatitis 43:65–71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B, Swanbeck G (1990) Predictive factors for hand eczema. Contact Dermatitis 23:154–161

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B, Wrangsjö K, Järvholm B (2005a) Fifteen-year follow-up of hand eczema: persistence and consequences. Br J Dermatol 152:975–980

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B, Wrangsjö K, Järvholm B (2005b) Fifteen-year follow-up of hand eczema: predictive factors. J Invest Dermatol 124:893–897

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meding B, Wrangsjö K, Järvholm B (2007) Hand eczema extent and morphology-association and influence on long-term prognosis. J Invest Dermatol 127:2147–2151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Molin S, Vollmer S, Weiss EH et al (2009) Filaggrin mutations may confer susceptibility to chronic hand eczema characterized by combined allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 161:801–807

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen TK, Kragholm K, Odgaard A et al (2009) Recurrent cyclic hyperkeratotic eczema after occupational alkali burn: traumatic chronic irritant dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 60:345–346

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nybaek H, Lophagen S, Karlsmark T et al (2010) Stratum corneum integrity as a predictor for peristomal skin problems in ostomates. Br J Dermatol 162(2):357–361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Regan GM, Sandilands A, McLean WH et al (2008) Filaggrin in atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 122:689–693

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pryce DW, Irvine D, English JSC et al (1989) Soluble oil dermatitis: a follow-up study. Contact Dermatitis 21:28–35

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rebandel P, Rudzki E (2002) Re-patch testing patients with long-term contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 47:234

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rusca C, Hinnen U, Elsner P (1997) Patient’s delay’ – analysis of the preclinical phase of occupational dermatoses. Dermatology 194(1):50–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruzicka T, Lynde CW, Jemec GB et al (2008) Efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin (9-cis retinoic acid) in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to topical corticosteroids: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Br J Dermatol 158:808–817

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rystedt I (1985a) Factors influencing the occurrence of hand eczema in adults with a history of atopic dermatitis in childhood. Contact Dermatitis 12:185–191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rystedt I (1985b) Contact sensitivity in adults with atopic dermatitis in childhood. Contact Dermatitis 13:1–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schliemann S, Kelterer D, Bauer A et al (2008) Tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of occupationally induced chronic hand dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 58:299–306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seyfarth F, Schliemann S, Antonov D, Elsner P (2011a) Dry skin, barrier function, and irritant contact dermatitis in the elderly. Clin Dermatol 29(1):31–36

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seyfarth F, Schliemann S, Antonov D, Elsner P (2011b) Teaching interventions in contact dermatitis. Dermatitis 22(1):8–15

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skoet R, Olsen J, Mathiesen B et al (2004) A survey of occupational hand eczema in Denmark. Contact Dermatitis 51:159–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storm A, Benfeldt E, Andersen SE et al (2008) A prospective study of patient adherence to topical treatments: 95% of patients underdose. J Am Acad Dermatol 59:975–980

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Susitaival P, Hannuksela M (1995) The 12-year prognosis of hand dermatosis in 896 Finnish farmers. Contact Dermatitis 32:233–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thyssen JP, Linneberg A, Menné T et al (2007) The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population–prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis 57:287–299

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turner S, Carder M, van Tongeren M et al (2007) The incidence of occupational skin disease as reported to the health and occupation reporting (THOR) network between 2002 and 2005. Br J Dermatol 157:713–722

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uter W, Gefeller O, Schwanitz HJ (1998) An epidemiological study of the influence of season (cold and dry air) on the occurrence of irritant skin changes of the hands. Br J Dermatol 138:266–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uter W, Hegewald J, Kränke B, Schnuch A, Gefeller O, Pfahlberg A (2008) The impact of meteorological conditions on patch test results with 12 standard series allergens (fragrances, biocides, topical ingredients). Br J Dermatol 158:734–739

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Veien NK, Olholm Larsen P et al (1999) Long term, intermittent treatment of chronic hand eczema with mometasone furoate. Br J Dermatol 140:882–886

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Veien NK, Hattel T, Laurberg G (2008) Hand eczema: causes, course, and prognosis I. Contact Dermatitis 58:330–334

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wall LM, Gebauer KA (1991) A follow-up study of occupational skin disease in Western Australia. Contact Dermatitis 24:241–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins SA, Maibach HI (2009) The hardening phenomenon in irritant contact dermatitis: an interpretative update. Contact Dermatitis 60:123–130

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weistenhöfer W, Baumeister T, Drexler H et al (2010) An overview of skin scores used for quantifying hand eczema: a critical update according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine. Br J Dermatol 162(2):239–250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wigger-Alberti W, Krebs A, Elsner P (2000) Experimental irritant contact dermatitis due to cumulative epicutaneous exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate and toluene: single and concurrent application. Br J Dermatol 143:551–556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zug KA, Kornik R, Belsito DV et al (2008) North American contact dermatitis group. Patch-testing North American lip dermatitis patients: data from the North American contact dermatitis group, 2001 to 2004. Dermatitis 19:202–208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany

    Peter Elsner

  2. Department of Dermatology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Kaija Lammintausta

Authors
  1. Peter Elsner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kaija Lammintausta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Elsner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Swen Malte John

  2. Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jeanne Duus Johansen

  3. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Thomas Rustemeyer

  4. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Peter Elsner

  5. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Elsner, P., Lammintausta, K. (2018). Prognosis of Irritant Contact Dermatitis. In: John, S., Johansen, J., Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., Maibach, H. (eds) Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_100-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_100-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation