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Mechanical Causes of Occupational Skin Disease

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Handbook of Occupational Dermatology

Abstract

The skin is well adapted to cope with many types of trauma, but excessive friction and microtrauma can result in the formation of various dermatoses (Table 1). Microtraumas include a variety of superficial skin injuries: friction, abrasions, pressure, stretching, compressions, cuts, etc. Mechanical insults to the skin may affect all levels of the skin from the cornified layer through the subcutaneous fat. The time allowed for adaptation determines the reaction of the skin. Slowly increasing pressure or friction induces hyperkeratosis, lichenification and calluses, while sudden friction can induce blisters. The effects of trauma are modified by humidity, sweating, age, gender, nutritional status, infection, genetic and racial factors.

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Authors
  1. L. Kanerva
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, 00250, Helsinki, Finland

    Lasse Kanerva M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Occupational Dermatology, Karolinska Hospital, 117 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jan E. Wahlberg M.D., Ph.D.

  3. National Institute for Working Life, 117 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jan E. Wahlberg M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Klinikum der FSU Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, 07740, Jena, Germany

    P. Elsner

  5. School of Medicine, University of California, Box 0989, Surge 100, 94143-0989, CA, San Francisco, USA

    Howard I. Maibach M.D.

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kanerva, L. (2000). Mechanical Causes of Occupational Skin Disease. In: Kanerva, L., Wahlberg, J.E., Elsner, P., Maibach, H.I. (eds) Handbook of Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07677-4_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07677-4_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-07679-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-07677-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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