[Protection of the skin]

The toxic or allergic contact dermatitis is the most frequent occupational disease of the skin. It is caused by repeated contact with irritant or sensitizing occupational substances. The aim of the skin protection is to prevent or at least to lessen the contact with these injuring substances. Protective gloves as well as skin protective unguents are of use for preventive skin protection. We differentiate two types of emulsions among the skin protective unguents: O/W-emulsions protect against injuring components, insoluble in water, and W/O-emulsions protect against injuring stuffs, soluble in water. The cleaning agents of the skin have to be chosen according to the degree and kind of the contamination; today surfactants such as soap and detergents are chiefly used. THe preserving skin protection is very important: with the regenerating care of the skin the water and fatty constituents of the injured skin are repaired.