Our hands are pretty tough characters. Especially considering what we ask them to do. From copper smelters to food processing plants to farms and laboratories, every day, in almost every business and industry, hands are exposed to hundreds of potential skin hazards.
These hazards can cause disabling dermatitis
as well as cuts, abrasions, and bruises. According
to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, allergic
and contact dermatitis is the major cause of
occupational skin diseases, which account for 15
to 20 percent of all reported occupational diseases. Symptoms can include itching, dryness, cracking, boils, blisters, bumps, de-pigmentation, redness and rashes. Hands, wrists, and forearms are by far the most frequent skin areas that show signs of industrial dermatitis.