Occupational Dermatitis: Prevention and Treatment
Occupational dermatitis is inflammation of the skin caused by repeated contact with chemicals or conditions in the workplace. It accounts for about 30-40% of work-related skin disease, making it an important occupational health problem that affects both work productivity and quality of life. This article was prepared by a dermatology specialist physician to help people in at-risk jobs understand the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and the right approach to prevention and treatment.
What causes occupational dermatitis?
The condition results from continuous exposure to irritants or allergens at work. It is divided into 2 main types:
Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Caused by contact with chemicals that directly irritate and damage the skin's protective barrier. This is the most common type, accounting for around 80% of patients.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Caused by an immune reaction to a specific allergen. Even a small amount of contact can trigger a rash.
At-risk occupations and the substances involved
Each occupation involves different substances. Knowing the specific triggers for your group helps you prevent problems more precisely:
Healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, patient care staff): Frequent contact with water and handwashing, cleaning detergents, hand sanitizer gels, and Latex rubber gloves.
Hairdressers: Contact with hair styling chemicals, especially PPD (Para-phenylenediamine) in hair dye and Thioglycolic acid in perming solutions.
Cooks and kitchen workers: Contact with water, dishwashing detergent, degreasers, oils, and various foods.
Construction workers: Contact with cement (which contains Dichromate), Epoxy resins, dust, and construction chemicals.
Farmers: Contact with fertilizers, Organophosphate pesticides, crop protection chemicals, and soil.
Symptoms of occupational dermatitis
Symptoms usually appear where the skin touches the trigger, such as the hands and arms. In order of severity:
Early symptoms: Burning pain and itching in the skin that came into contact with the substance.
As it worsens: Red rash, swelling, weeping, dry skin, and cracks.
Complications: Cracked, inflamed skin is at risk of secondary bacterial infection.
Typical pattern: Symptoms usually improve after contact with the trigger stops, but flare up and become chronic if contact is repeated.
Diagnosis and Patch Test
Diagnosis relies mainly on your work history, your workplace environment, and the clinical appearance of the rash. A Patch test is an important test that helps identify the specific allergen:
How it is done: The doctor places patches containing several standard chemicals on the skin of your back.
Duration: The skin changes are read about 48 hours after the patches are applied.
Benefit: It identifies your specific trigger so you can plan precisely how to avoid it in the future.
Prevention and treatment
Prevention is the most important part of managing occupational dermatitis, alongside treatment when symptoms occur:
Prevention: Choose gloves suited to the type of work, apply Protective cream before work, wash the skin clean, and reduce chemical contact as far as possible.
Initial treatment: Start by stopping contact with the trigger, use a moisturizer to care for the skin, and use an antihistamine for itching.
Severe cases: The doctor may consider a corticosteroid cream or anti-inflammatory medication, and some patients may need to change their job duties.
Right to compensation
Workers who develop occupational dermatitis are entitled to claim compensation from the Workmen's Compensation Fund. A medical certificate stating that the condition is work-related is required. Patients should consult a doctor for an assessment and for the documents needed to claim compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Can occupational dermatitis be cured completely? If it is diagnosed early and contact with the trigger stops, symptoms usually improve and can clear. If contact with the trigger continues, the rash flares up and becomes chronic. Early treatment therefore helps prevent long-lasting allergy.
Does a Patch test hurt, and how long does it take? A Patch test is done by placing chemical patches on the skin of the back. There is no piercing or injection, so it does not hurt. The doctor reads the result about 48 hours after the patches are applied to identify your specific allergen.
Do protective cream and gloves really help? Yes. Choosing gloves suited to the work and applying Protective cream before work reduces contact with triggers and protects the skin barrier, together with washing the skin clean after work.
Do I have to change jobs if I have this condition? Not always. Most cases can be controlled with prevention and treatment. However, in some patients whose symptoms are severe or who cannot avoid the trigger, the doctor may recommend changing job duties so the rash does not become chronic.
If you have a rash that you suspect is caused by your work, early diagnosis and treatment help keep it from becoming chronic. You can consult a dermatology specialist at Siam Dermatology, phone +66 61 448 7000 or LINE @siamderm.
Written by Dr. Patara Voravutinon, Dermatologist · Last reviewed 16 July 2026
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