Skin disease in the pottery industry

The only common skin disease in the pottery industry is eczematous dermatitis. Low-grade dermatitis, not necessitating absence from work, may affect 5-10% of the workforce. In perhaps only 1% is the condition severe enough to cause significant absence from work and the attendant financial problems. Mostly the problem is that of a cumulative irritant dermatitis associated particularly with wet work. Such a pattern is more common in patients with a history of childhood eczema. As the prognosis of industrial dermatitis is poor, such subjects should be counselled against work that occasions exposure to potential skin irritants. More rarely the problem is due to allergic contact dermatitis. Here identification and replacement or avoidance of the allergen may resolve the problem.