Prevention of hand dermatitis in bakers' apprentices: different efficacy of skin protection measures and UVB hardening.

Objective: The objective of this controlled intervention study was to quantify the efficacy of skin protection (SP) measures and ultraviolet B (UVB) hardening in the prevention of hand dermatitis in bakers' apprentices.

Method: SP measures were compared against UVB hardening in a controlled clinical trial of 94 apprentices. The apprentices were assigned to the intervention arms class-wise.

Skin protection in bakers' apprentices.

Skin protection measures - barrier creams, protective gloves - and skin care are widely recommended for the prevention of occupational hand dermatitis (HD) in skin risk professions, but there is hardly anything known about uptake levels of the measures. The objective of this controlled intervention study was to quantify the uptake and maintenance of skin protection and skin care measures in first-year bakers' apprentices. A total of 94 first-year bakers' apprentices were included in the study in September 2000.