Hand Dermatitis at Work: How Contact Dermatitis Care Is Planned Around Wet Work and Gloves

The nurse noticed it first on the knuckle of her right index finger, a dry crack that stung every time the alcohol rub went on. By the end of a four-shift stretch the skin across both hands felt like paper left out in the sun, and the gloves she wore for every patient had started to feel like part of the problem rather than the solution.

That is the ordinary beginning of occupational hand dermatitis: not one dramatic exposure, but hundreds of small ones. Water, soap, sanitizer, sweat trapped inside a glove, then the whole cycle again twenty minutes later. Hairdressers, cooks, cleaners, dental staff, mechanics and food processors describe the same slow slide.

The good news is that this is one of the better-understood skin conditions, and the plan for managing it is built around the one thing you cannot change easily, which is the work itself. This explainer walks through how clinicians think about wet work and gloves, what the evidence actually supports, and where the decisions belong.

What is occupational hand dermatitis, and which jobs see it most?

Dermatitis simply means inflamed skin. When the inflammation sits on the hands and is caused, or made noticeably worse, by what a person does for a living, clinicians call it occupational hand dermatitis. The terms hand eczema and hand dermatitis are used interchangeably in most patient information.

The hands are the body’s working surface, so they take the hit. They are washed more often than any other skin, they touch chemicals the rest of the body never meets, and they spend hours sealed inside gloves. The skin on the fingers and the backs of the hands is also thinner than on the palms, which is why cracks and redness tend to show up there first.

The jobs most often linked to the condition share a common thread: frequent contact with water, soaps, solvents or other substances that strip the skin’s protective oils. The NHS lists cleaners, cooks and caterers, hairdressers, healthcare workers, mechanics and construction workers among those with higher risk. Food handlers face a double exposure, since raw ingredients such as citrus, garlic and fish can irritate skin on their own, and the hygiene rules then demand repeated washing.

The pattern tends to be visible to the trained eye. A cleaner’s rash often follows the glove line at the wrist. A hairdresser’s starts in the finger webs where dye and perming solutions pool. Someone who scrubs for surgery shows dryness across the backs of both hands rather than one. These clues matter, because the plan for calming the skin depends heavily on working out which exposures are doing the damage and when during the day they happen.

Irritant contact dermatitis on the hands: what actually happens in the skin

Think of the outer layer of skin as a brick wall. The bricks are flattened skin cells; the mortar is a mixture of fats and natural moisturizing factors. That wall keeps water inside the body and keeps chemicals out. Irritant contact dermatitis, the more common of the two types, happens when repeated exposure to water, detergent or solvent dissolves the mortar faster than the skin can rebuild it. Water escapes, the surface cracks, and inflammatory signals pour in. No allergy is involved; anyone exposed enough will eventually react.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a different mechanism. Here the immune system has learned to recognize a specific substance, such as a preservative in a hand cream, a rubber chemical in a glove, or a metal like nickel in a tool. After that first sensitization, even tiny amounts trigger a delayed reaction. According to the NHS, allergic reactions of this kind usually appear within hours to a few days of contact rather than immediately.

The two types frequently coexist. Irritated skin has a weaker barrier, which lets allergens penetrate more easily, so a person who starts with simple irritation from wet work can later develop a true allergy to something they have handled for years without trouble. This is one reason clinicians treat irritant dermatitis seriously rather than dismissing it as chapped hands.

A third, less common pattern is contact urticaria, an immediate hives-type reaction most familiar from natural rubber latex. It behaves differently, arriving within minutes and often fading within hours, and it is assessed with different tests.

Understanding which process is at work changes the plan. Irritation is managed mainly by reducing exposure and rebuilding the barrier. Allergy requires identifying and avoiding the specific culprit, and that usually means patch testing.

What counts as wet work, and why does the definition matter?

Wet work sounds obvious, yet occupational health uses it as a measurable category because the amount of exposure predicts risk. The definitions drawn on in the Cochrane review of workplace prevention describe wet work as roughly two hours or more per shift with hands in liquid, frequent handwashing, or extended periods inside occlusive gloves. Occlusive here means a glove that does not let moisture out, so the skin sits in its own sweat.

That last point surprises many people. Wearing a waterproof glove for hours counts as wet work even if no water ever touches the hand. Sweat softens the outer skin layer the way a long bath wrinkles fingertips, and softened skin is more easily damaged by whatever follows the glove: soap, sanitizer or friction.

The definition matters because it turns a vague complaint into a workplace risk that can be assessed and modified. Once a job is classified as wet work, employers and occupational health teams have a reason to look at the schedule, the products and the glove policy rather than leaving the individual to cope alone.

For the person with sore hands, the practical question is where the exposure actually comes from. Keeping a simple diary for a week of shifts, noting each wash, each glove period and each product, often reveals that the total is far higher than anyone assumed. A healthcare worker following standard hygiene rules can easily pass the two-hour threshold through handwashing alone, before a single patient-care glove is counted.

Reducing wet work does not always mean doing less. Swapping a wash for an alcohol rub when hands are not visibly soiled, drying hands completely rather than leaving them damp, and using cotton liners under occlusive gloves all reduce the effective exposure without changing the job itself. These small shifts are the backbone of how care is planned.

Why gloves protect and harm at the same time

Gloves are the first thing most people reach for when their hands start to crack, and clinicians agree they are essential for many tasks. The complication is that gloves solve one problem while quietly creating another.

On the protective side, a well-chosen glove stops detergent, solvents, dyes and raw food from touching damaged skin. For a hairdresser, that single step can be the difference between a flare that spreads and one that settles.

On the harmful side, several things happen inside a glove. Sweat accumulates and softens the barrier. Any irritant already on the hand, such as soap residue from the last wash, is held against the skin for the whole glove period. Powdered gloves add particles that abrade damaged skin. And the glove itself may be the allergen: rubber accelerator chemicals used in the manufacture of nitrile and latex gloves are among the common causes of allergic contact dermatitis on the hands, with a rash that classically sits where glove meets wrist. Natural rubber latex can also provoke the immediate hives-type reaction described earlier.

The guidance that emerges from this is consistent across the sources cited here. Gloves should be worn when needed and removed as soon as the task ends, rather than kept on between tasks. Hands should be dry before gloving. Prolonged occlusive glove use is easier on the skin with a thin cotton liner that absorbs sweat and can be changed when damp. And a person whose rash matches the glove outline should be assessed for glove allergy rather than simply told to wear more of them.

None of this means abandoning gloves. It means treating them as a tool with a right way and a wrong way to use it, which is exactly how an occupational health team will frame the conversation.

How is occupational hand dermatitis diagnosed, and when is patch testing for hand eczema used?

Diagnosis begins with a conversation rather than a test. A clinician will want to know what the job involves hour by hour, which products touch the hands, whether the rash improves on days off or holidays and worsens on return, and whether there is a personal or family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever, since people with atopic eczema have a more fragile skin barrier and higher risk.

The pattern on the hands adds information. Dryness and cracking across the backs of both hands point toward irritation from washing. Blistering in the finger webs or a sharp border at the wrist raises suspicion of allergy. Examination of other skin, including the feet and elbow creases, helps separate occupational dermatitis from eczema or psoriasis that happens to involve the hands.

Patch testing is the standard way to confirm allergic contact dermatitis. Small amounts of common and job-specific allergens are applied to the back under adhesive patches. The NHS and Mayo Clinic describe the patches staying in place for about two days, after which the skin is checked for localized reactions, often with a further reading a few days later because these reactions are delayed. It is painless, though itchy spots can appear if a test is positive.

Patch testing is not a screening test for everyone with sore hands. Clinicians usually reserve it for people whose dermatitis persists despite good skin protection, whose pattern suggests allergy, or whose job exposes them to known sensitizers such as hair dye, rubber chemicals, epoxy resins or certain preservatives. Blood tests do not diagnose allergic contact dermatitis; they are used for the separate, immediate type of allergy such as latex.

A clear diagnosis changes what can be done at work. An employer can replace a specific product; no one can replace water.

Who is active treatment usually for, and who is usually asked to wait?

Almost everyone with occupational hand dermatitis receives the same foundation of care: reduce wet exposure, protect the skin, moisturize relentlessly. The question of who moves beyond that to prescription treatment, and who is asked to pause, depends on severity, pattern and timing.

Prescription anti-inflammatory treatment is usually considered when the skin is visibly inflamed, cracked or blistered, when itch disrupts sleep, or when protection alone has not settled things over a reasonable period. Someone whose hands are infected, with weeping, crusting or spreading redness, will typically be seen promptly rather than asked to try moisturizer first.

Patch testing is the area where waiting is most common. Testing on skin that is actively flaring can produce unreliable results, and strong anti-inflammatory treatment on the back where patches are placed can mask reactions. Clinicians therefore often ask people to let the flare calm, and to pause certain treatments on the test site for a period they will specify, before the appointment. This is a scheduling decision, not a dismissal.

Some people are asked to wait on specific systemic treatments. Several of the medicines used for severe, persistent hand eczema are not suitable during pregnancy or while planning a pregnancy, and some require blood monitoring beforehand. The treating team weighs these factors individually.

Children and adolescents in work experience or apprenticeships follow the same general pathway, with emphasis on exposure control and comfort; medicine choices are made entirely by their clinician.

Finally, a person whose rash looks unlike contact dermatitis, with scaling patterns suggesting psoriasis, nail changes or involvement of other body areas, may be asked to wait on an occupational label while the broader picture is assessed. Mislabeling a condition as work-related can lead to unnecessary job changes, so clinicians are careful here.

How care for occupational hand dermatitis is planned around the shift

The distinctive feature of managing this condition is that the plan is written around the working day. A dermatologist can calm inflamed skin, but if the same hands return to twenty washes and six hours of gloves the next morning, the inflammation returns with them. So the plan starts with the shift.

Step one is an exposure map. When does washing happen, with what, and could any of those washes be replaced or shortened? When are gloves worn, for how long, and could liners or breaks be introduced? Which products are optional? A hairdresser cannot avoid water, but may be able to use gloves for shampooing, which many do not. A cook may find that a single ingredient accounts for most of the stinging.

Step two is barrier repair, built into the routine rather than added at the end of the day. Moisturizer after every wash, kept at the sink or in a pocket, is more effective than one generous application at bedtime. Fragrance-free products are generally recommended because fragrance is itself a common allergen.

Step three is active treatment of inflammation if needed, prescribed and timed so it fits with gloves and food hygiene rules. Many people apply prescribed creams at the end of a shift and overnight, when the skin is free of gloves and the product has time to work.

Step four involves the workplace. Occupational health services, where available, can assess the role, recommend adjustments, review glove policies and support a temporary change in duties while the skin recovers. The Cochrane review of prevention found that structured skin protection programs, which combine education with product provision, may reduce the condition, though the certainty of that evidence is low to moderate.

Each step is adjusted at follow-up. The plan is a draft that the worker, the clinician and the workplace refine together.

Moisturizers and barrier creams: what the evidence actually shows

Moisturizers, also called emollients, are the one treatment that every guideline agrees on. They work by two mechanisms: occlusive ingredients form a thin film that slows water loss, and humectant ingredients draw water into the outer skin layer. Both help rebuild the mortar in the brick wall described earlier.

The evidence for their role in occupational hand dermatitis is reasonable but not as strong as many assume. The Cochrane review of prevention in workplaces concluded that moisturizers and barrier creams may reduce occupational irritant hand dermatitis, and that a combination of the two may be helpful, but graded that evidence as low to moderate certainty. Few trials were large, and many measured skin changes rather than how people actually felt or whether they stayed at work. That is an honest basis for recommending moisturizer, not a reason to skip it.

Barrier creams deserve a specific note because they are often marketed as invisible gloves. The idea is that a film applied before work repels irritants. The review found they may help, but they are not a substitute for a physical glove when handling chemicals, and applying one under a glove can trap it against the skin for hours.

Practical points that come up repeatedly in guidance from the NHS and Cleveland Clinic:

• Apply after every wash, while skin is still slightly damp, not only at bedtime.
• Choose fragrance-free products; fragrance and some preservatives are common allergens, so the moisturizer itself can become part of the problem.
• Thicker ointments tend to hold moisture better than thin lotions and are often preferred overnight, when cotton gloves can keep the product on the skin.
• Pump dispensers are less likely to be contaminated than open tubs shared between colleagues.

No specific brand has evidence that others lack. The product that gets used after every wash is the one that helps.

Prescription treatments: how they work and the typical timelines

When protection and moisturizer do not settle the skin, clinicians have a ladder of anti-inflammatory options. What follows describes mechanism and general timing only; the choice, strength, duration and how each is used belong to the prescribing clinician.

Topical corticosteroids are the usual first prescription. They dampen the inflammatory signals in the skin, reducing redness, swelling and itch. The NHS describes them as typically used in short courses to bring a flare under control, with strength matched to the severity and thickness of skin on the hands. Prolonged, uninterrupted use carries risks of skin thinning, which is why clinicians review rather than renew indefinitely.

Topical calcineurin inhibitors are an alternative class that calms the immune response in the skin by a different route and do not thin the skin. They are sometimes chosen for longer-term control or for sensitive areas, and they can sting on application for the first few days.

If dermatitis is infected, with weeping, crusting or pain, a clinician may prescribe antimicrobial treatment alongside the anti-inflammatory, since bacteria colonize broken skin readily.

For severe, persistent hand eczema that has not responded to topical treatment and exposure control, specialists may consider phototherapy, which uses controlled ultraviolet light to reduce skin inflammation, or systemic medicines taken by mouth, such as the retinoid alitretinoin or immunosuppressant medicines. These require specialist assessment, monitoring and in some cases pregnancy planning, and are a decision for the dermatology team.

As for timelines, the Mayo Clinic notes that a contact dermatitis rash typically lasts two to four weeks once the trigger is removed, and the NHS advises that skin generally clears when irritants and allergens are successfully avoided. Chronic occupational cases often take longer because exposure cannot be fully removed, which is why follow-up and workplace adjustment carry so much of the weight.

Gloves for hand eczema at work: a comparison of common materials

No single glove suits every task or every person. The table summarizes what mainstream guidance and occupational health practice say about the materials people are most likely to be offered.

Glove type	Common uses	Strengths	Points to watch
Nitrile (synthetic rubber)	Healthcare, cleaning, hairdressing, food handling	Good resistance to many chemicals; latex-free	Contains rubber accelerators that can cause allergic contact dermatitis; occlusive, so sweat builds
Natural rubber latex	Healthcare, some laboratories	Flexible, good fit and sensitivity	Risk of immediate latex allergy; also contains accelerators; powdered versions abrade skin
Vinyl (PVC)	Light food handling, short tasks	Accelerator-free; low cost of allergy risk	Weaker chemical barrier and tears more easily; still occlusive
Accelerator-free nitrile or neoprene	People with confirmed rubber chemical allergy	Avoids the common glove allergens	Fit and availability vary; still occlusive
Cotton liners	Under any occlusive glove; overnight with moisturizer	Absorb sweat, reduce friction, allow longer glove wear	No protection on their own; must be changed when damp and washed regularly
Heavy household or chemical-resistant gloves	Dishwashing, cleaning with strong agents, solvents	Durable barrier against harsh products	Hot and sweaty; use liners and limit continuous wear

A few principles apply regardless of material. The glove should be intact, the right size, and put on dry hands. It comes off as soon as the wet or chemical task ends, not at the end of the hour. Reusable gloves are rinsed and dried inside out. And if a rash follows the glove edge or does not improve after other measures, patch testing for glove chemicals is worth raising with the care team. Switching materials without that assessment is guesswork, and vinyl’s weaker chemical barrier can trade one problem for another.

What the first weeks of a care plan usually look like

People often expect a prescription cream to fix their hands in a few days and are discouraged when it does not. Setting realistic expectations is part of good care, so here is the shape of a typical early course, with the caution that individual experience varies and no timeline is a promise.

In the first few days, the focus is on stopping the slide. Moisturizer goes on after every wash. Gloves come off between tasks. Any obviously avoidable product is removed. If a topical anti-inflammatory has been prescribed, it is usually applied at times that fit around work, often after shifts and overnight. Itch and stinging often ease first, while visible cracks lag behind because the skin needs time to regrow across them.

Over the following one to two weeks, redness and scaling generally reduce if exposure has genuinely dropped. The Mayo Clinic’s observation that contact dermatitis typically runs two to four weeks after the trigger is removed is a useful anchor here. If the hands are no better at all by then, it usually means an exposure is still happening, an allergen has not been identified, or the diagnosis needs revisiting, and that is a reason for a review rather than for pushing on alone.

By the end of the first month, the pattern becomes informative. Skin that improves across a week off and worsens within two or three shifts of returning strongly supports a workplace cause and may prompt an occupational health referral or a patch-test appointment. Skin that stays calm while protection continues suggests the plan is working and can be maintained with gradual reduction of prescribed treatment, as directed.

Relapses are common because the exposure continues. Most clinicians frame the goal as control rather than a permanent fix: fewer, milder flares that are caught early, with a routine that has become automatic.

What people often get wrong about wet work hand dermatitis

Myths around this condition are stubborn, partly because they sound like common sense. Here are the ones clinicians correct most often.

“It’s just dry skin, it isn’t a real medical problem.” Irritant dermatitis is inflammation with a damaged barrier. Left alone it can crack, bleed, become infected and open the door to true allergy. It is also one of the most common work-related health conditions reported to occupational health systems.

“More gloves will fix it.” Gloves protect against chemicals but add occlusion, sweat and sometimes allergens. Longer continuous glove wear often makes things worse. The answer is smarter glove use, not more.

“Antibacterial soap is gentler because it’s medical.” Soaps with added antimicrobials are not kinder to skin, and some contain preservatives that are known sensitizers. Where hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol rub followed by moisturizer is usually less damaging than another wash, as the NHS and other hygiene guidance note.

“If I were allergic I would react straight away.” Allergic contact dermatitis is delayed by hours to days, which is exactly why people keep using the culprit product. Only patch testing sorts this out reliably.

“Natural products are safer.” Plant extracts, essential oils and fragrance are among the most frequent contact allergens. Natural tells you nothing about allergy risk.

“Steroid creams are dangerous, so I’ll use them as little as possible.” Used as prescribed and reviewed, topical corticosteroids are a mainstay of care. Under-treating a flare while the exposure continues often prolongs the problem. Concerns about any medicine belong in a conversation with the prescriber, not in silent non-use.

“I’ll have to quit my job.” Most people manage with exposure changes, protection and treatment. Job change is a last resort discussed with occupational health, not a starting point.

Questions to ask your care team about occupational hand dermatitis

A consultation goes further when you arrive with specific questions and a week of exposure notes. These are the ones that tend to unlock useful answers.

• Does my pattern look irritant, allergic or mixed, and what makes you think so?
• Would patch testing help in my case, and if so, what should I stop or continue before the appointment?
• Which of my work exposures do you think matters most, and which could realistically change?
• How should I time prescribed creams around gloves, food handling or patient care?
• How long should I expect to use this treatment before we review it, and what would tell us it is not working?
• Are there ingredients I should avoid in moisturizers, soaps or hand rubs because of what you suspect?
• Which glove material and liner approach fits my job, and when should gloves come off?
• Should I be referred to occupational health, and what information would help them?
• Is it worth documenting this as work-related, and what does that involve where I live?
• If the skin becomes infected or suddenly worse, who do I contact and how quickly?
• Are any of the treatments we might consider later affected by pregnancy plans or other medicines I take?

Bring the actual products you use at work if you can, or photographs of the labels, since ingredient lists are what clinicians need. Photographs of the rash at its worst help too, because hands have an inconvenient habit of looking better on the day of the appointment.

Expect some answers to be provisional. A clinician who says the picture is not yet clear and proposes a test or a review is practicing good medicine, not dodging the question. The decisions about diagnosis, treatment and work adjustments rest with the treating team, informed by what you tell them.

When to call your doctor

Most occupational hand dermatitis is managed in primary care or through occupational health, with time and a steady routine. Some situations call for prompt contact rather than waiting for the next scheduled review.

Seek care soon if the skin shows signs of infection: increasing pain, warmth, swelling, yellow crusting, pus, or red streaks spreading up the hand or arm. A fever alongside hand changes needs same-day attention. Broken skin on working hands is an easy entry point for bacteria, and infections respond better when treated early.

Call if blisters are spreading rapidly, if the rash extends well beyond the hands to the forearms, face or body, or if swelling of the lips, eyelids or throat, wheeze or lightheadedness occurs after contact with gloves or another product. Those last features suggest an immediate-type allergy and require urgent assessment.

Contact your care team if the hands are no better after the review period you agreed, if they are worsening despite following the plan, if cracks are deep enough to bleed or prevent you working, or if itch is disrupting sleep night after night. Persistent dermatitis that is not responding is a reason to revisit the diagnosis or arrange patch testing, not a sign that you have failed.

Also get in touch before changing any prescribed treatment on your own. If a cream stings badly, seems to be making things worse, or you have concerns about using it, the prescriber needs to know so the plan can be adjusted safely.

Finally, if the condition is affecting your ability to do your job or your mood, say so. Hand dermatitis has a real effect on daily life and work, and occupational health, employer adjustments and support are part of care, not an afterthought. Every decision about treatment, testing and work remains with your treating team.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between irritant contact dermatitis on the hands and allergic contact dermatitis?

Irritant contact dermatitis is direct damage to the skin barrier from repeated exposure to water, soap or chemicals, and it can affect anyone exposed enough. Allergic contact dermatitis is an immune reaction to a specific substance the body has become sensitized to, appearing hours to days after contact. Both can occur together, and patch testing is used to distinguish them when the pattern or persistence suggests allergy.

Does wet work hand dermatitis go away if I keep working?

It can be controlled, but rarely settles fully while exposure continues unchanged. Guidance from the NHS and Mayo Clinic indicates that contact dermatitis generally improves within two to four weeks once triggers are avoided. For many people that means reducing wet exposure, changing how gloves are used and moisturizing after every wash rather than leaving the job. The goal clinicians usually set is fewer, milder flares.

How is patch testing for hand eczema done, and does it hurt?

Small amounts of possible allergens are applied to the back under adhesive patches, which stay in place for about two days before the skin is examined, often with a later reading because reactions are delayed. It does not involve needles and is generally painless, though positive spots may itch. Your clinician may ask you to pause certain treatments on the back beforehand and will advise on timing around a flare.

Which gloves for hand eczema at work are least likely to cause problems?

There is no universal answer, because the right glove depends on the task and on whether you have an allergy to glove chemicals. Nitrile resists many chemicals but contains rubber accelerators that can sensitize; latex adds immediate allergy risk; vinyl is accelerator-free but a weaker barrier. Cotton liners under any occlusive glove reduce sweat and friction. If the rash follows the glove edge, ask about patch testing.

Is it better to wash my hands or use alcohol rub if my skin is sore?

When hands are not visibly soiled, hygiene guidance generally favors an alcohol-based rub followed by moisturizer, because repeated soap-and-water washing strips skin lipids more aggressively. Alcohol can sting on cracked skin, which many people misread as damage, but the sting usually eases as the barrier recovers. Where washing is required, use lukewarm water, rinse thoroughly, pat dry completely and moisturize straight afterwards.

Can barrier creams replace gloves when I handle chemicals?

No. The Cochrane review of workplace prevention found that barrier creams may help reduce irritant hand dermatitis, but the evidence is of low to moderate certainty and they do not provide a physical barrier against solvents, dyes or cleaning agents. They are best thought of as a supplement to good glove practice and regular moisturizing, not a substitute, and they should not be trapped under an occlusive glove for hours.

How long will I need to use a prescribed steroid cream?

That is a decision for the prescribing clinician, who will match strength and duration to how inflamed your skin is and review you rather than renew indefinitely. The NHS describes topical corticosteroids as typically used in short courses to bring a flare under control. Prolonged uninterrupted use can thin the skin, which is why follow-up matters. Do not stop, extend or change the treatment without discussing it first.

Why do my hands improve on holiday and get worse within days of going back to work?

That pattern is one of the clearest clues clinicians look for, because it strongly suggests a workplace exposure is driving the inflammation. Skin recovers its barrier when wet work and glove occlusion stop, then breaks down again when they resume. Keeping a brief diary of washes, glove periods and products across a work week and a rest week gives your care team concrete information to act on.

Can occupational hand dermatitis turn into a permanent allergy?

Irritant dermatitis itself is not an allergy, but a damaged barrier allows allergens to penetrate more easily, so people with long-standing irritation have a higher chance of developing a true contact allergy to something they handle, such as rubber chemicals, preservatives or hair dye. Once sensitized, the immune memory is usually long-lasting, which is why early control of irritation and identifying allergens through patch testing both matter.

Should I report hand dermatitis to my employer or occupational health?

In most workplaces, yes. Work-related skin disease is recognized as an occupational health issue, and reporting allows an assessment of the role, glove policy and products, as well as temporary adjustments while your skin recovers. It also creates a record that may be relevant later. Your clinician can advise on documentation, and any decisions about work changes are made jointly with you, the employer and the care team.

References

• Contact dermatitis (NHS)
• Contact dermatitis: Treatment (NHS)
• Contact Dermatitis (Cleveland Clinic)
• Contact dermatitis (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia)

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.