[Occupational rehabilitation of patients with hand eczema (author's transl)]

Occupational rehabilitation of eczema patients depends almost as much upon psycho-social as medical factors. Age, duration of previous disability, social program support, motivation and intellectual ability of patients, other organic diseases and type of eczema are the most important factors in rehabilitation success. Principles, methods and results of a dermatological rehabilitation program established at the Erlangen Dermatological Clinic since 1974 are briefly reviewed. This "Erlanger Rehabilitationsprogramm" takes into account, besides dermatological aspects, as well as ergotherapeutic, psycho-social, communicative and economical factors. In consequence, several propositions for the rehabilitation of patients occupationally handicapped by chronic hand eczemas are made.