Occupational Dermatosis is described as any alteration in the skin, mucosa or annexes that is directly or indirectly caused, conditioned, maintained or aggravated by agents present in the occupational activity or work environment. The authors of the present study describe the importance of the topic and the epidemiology and etiopathogeny of the main forms of occupational dermatoses: allergic and irritative contact dermatitis, phytodermatitis, acne (elaioconioses and chloracne), keratosis, cancers, foreign body granuloma, infections, onychias, and ulcerations. Clinical findings of occupational dermatosis are presented in relation to various professions. Laboratory tests used to diagnose this condition are analysed, with special emphasis on patch testing, which is the gold standard. Information about the treatment and prevention of this disorder is provided. Collective and individual measures, especially regarding the proper use of individual protection equipment for the prevention of occupational dermatosis, are detailed. Keywords: Barbering; Chloracne; Dermatitis, contact; Dermatitis, occupational; Keratosis Resumo: Dermatose ocupacional é qualquer alteração da pele, mucosa e anexos, direta ou indiretamente causada, condicionada, mantida ou agravada por agentes presentes na atividade ocupacional ou no ambiente de trabalho. Os autores referem a importância do tema, a epidemiologia e a etiopatogenia das principais dermatoses ocupacionais: dermatites de contato irritativas e alérgicas, fitodermatites, acnes (elaioconiose e cloracne), ceratoses, cânceres, granulomas de corpo estranho, infecções, oníquias e ulcerações. A clínica da dermatose ocupacional é apresentada em diferentes profissões. Analisam-se os exames laboratoriais pedidos nessas dermatoses, com especial destaque para testes de contato, que são o padrão ouro, e fornecem-se dados do tratamento e prevenção; quanto à prevenção da dermatose ocupacional, informam-se as medidas coletivas e individuais, especialmente, no que respeita ao uso adequado dos equipamentos de proteção individual.

BackgroundTopical phenytoin is a powerful skin wounds healing and it may be useful in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical phenytoin 0.5%, by comparing it with cream (control) in wounds resulting from excision of two melanocytic nevi in the same patient. Our purpose was also to assess if phenytoin had better therapeutic and cosmetic outcomes when compared with cream (control).MethodsThis study evaluated 100 patients with skin wounds from excision of melanocytic nevi. 50 patients with lesions on the face and 50 patients with lesions on the back, totalizing 200 lesions excised with modified punch. The resulting superficial skin wounds had the same diameter and depth, and second intention healing followed.Patients were followed for 60 days. Student's t-test, Mann Whitney nonparametric test, analysis of variance, LSD test, Shapiro-Wilks test and Fisher test were used to analyze the results, depending on the nature of the variables being studied.ResultsPhenytoin showed better therapeutic and cosmetic results, by healing faster, with more intense epithelization in wounds in comparison with cream (control). Phenytoin showed a statistically significant difference regarding the following parameters (p < 0.05): wounded area and healing time. Phenytoin application resulted in a smaller area and a shorter healing time. Also the intensity of exudates, bleeding, and the epithelization were more intense in phenytoin-treated wounds. Regarding the shape and thickness of the scar, injuries treated with phenytoin had round and flat shaped scars in most of the cases. Considering patient's gender and phototype, female patients presented smaller wounds and scar areas; and phototype I had the largest scar areas. Contact eczema was an adverse reaction in 7 injuries located on the back caused by cream (control) and hypoallergenic tape.ConclusionsPhenytoin showed better therapeutic and cosmetic results compared with cream (control). Phenytoin is a low cost drug, which accelerates skin wounds healing in human patients. Trial registration: ISRCTN96539803

There are no recent data on allergens in the construction industry in Brazil; apparently there were no changes in allergenic substances. The objective of this study was to identify sensitization to allergens in adult males working in the construction industry. A cross-sectional study with adult males submitted to patch tests from May 2000 to December 2005. Out of 169 male patients, 83 were construction workers. The five most frequent allergens among the construction workers were potassium dichromate (57%), carba-mix (34.9%), cobalt chloride (30.2%), thiuram-mix (27.9%) and neomycin (19.8%). There is a significant sensitization to potassium dichromate, cobalt, carba-mix, and thiuram-mix, demonstrating that cement and rubber gloves of personal protection equipment still account for allergic contact dermatitis in construction industry workers.

The persistence of tumoral residues after 2 curettage and electrofulguration cycles for basal cell carcinoma was found in 5 sites treated (25%). Despite the small cohort, such findings are very similar to those of other studies that applied curettage and electrocoagulation and indicated the probability of 25% of tumoral persistence.