Occupational issues of irritant contact dermatitis

Occupational irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), a non-immunological cutaneous inflammatory response to a workplace substance, comprises a major portion of occupational dermatoses in industrialized societies, resulting in considerable social and economic implications. The sheer morphological variety of ICD presents a diagnostic and classification challenge; ideotypes identified to date include acute, chronic and cumulative irritant dermatitis, delayed acute irritant dermatitis, irritant reaction, pustular irritant dermatitis, suberythematous irritation, sensory irritation, friction dermatitis and airborne dermatitis. Hand dermatitis is the most frequent manifestation of occupational ICD. This article reviews the various types of ICD, the epidemiological data available to date, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of ICD, emphasizing occupational issues.