Epidemiological Comparative Study on Contact Sensitisations in Woodworkers With Occupational Dermatitis: Patch Test Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 1999 to 2023

Luisa Heizmann ¹, Steffen Schubert ², Andrea Bauer ³

¹Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatologic Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm) at the Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
²Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), Institute at the Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
³Department of Dermatology, University Allergy Center, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
⁴Department of Dermatology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
⁵Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.
⁶Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, St. Josef Hospital, University Medical Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
⁷Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
⁸Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁹Immunologie-Zentrum Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁰Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
¹¹Department of Dermatology, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
¹²Division of Occupational Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
¹³Department of Occupational Diseases and Occupational Medicine, AUVA Rehabilitation Clinic Tobelbad, Tobelbad, Austria.
¹⁴Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.

⁰Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatologic Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm) at the Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.

Contact Dermatitis +

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November 12, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Woodworkers frequently develop allergic contact dermatitis from occupational exposure. Key allergens include resins and plant-derived substances, posing challenges for prevention.

Area Of Science

Occupational dermatology
Allergology
Woodworking industry safety

Background

Woodworkers (WW) face significant occupational hazards and potent allergens.
Occupational dermatitis (OD) is a common concern in this profession.

Purpose Of The Study

To characterize the contact sensitization patterns in woodworkers with occupational dermatitis.
To compare sensitization profiles between woodworkers with and without occupational dermatitis, and with other occupational groups.

Main Methods

Retrospective analysis of patch test and clinical data from the IVDK network (1999-2023).
Comparison of 471 woodworkers with OD against 558 woodworkers without OD and 39,759 non-woodworkers with OD.

Main Results

Allergic contact dermatitis was the most frequent diagnosis (32.5%) in woodworkers with OD, predominantly affecting the hands (63.5%).
Face dermatitis and dust exposure were more common in woodworkers with OD compared to other occupational groups.
Significant sensitizations in male woodworkers with OD included epoxy resin, Myroxylon pereirae, propolis, and colophonium.

Conclusions

Allergic contact dermatitis is a significant issue for woodworkers.
Resins and plant-derived substances are key allergens.
Airborne occupational dermatitis presents unique prevention challenges.

Keywords:

airborne allergic contact dermatitis colophonium epoxy resin hand dermatitis occupational patch test woodworkers