Hand eczema in metalworker trainees--an analysis of risk factors.

The present study, as part of PROMETES (Swiss Prospective Metal Worker Eczema Study), was performed to examine risk factors for the development of occupational hand dermatitis in metal-worker trainees. Since this disease is very common, a high standard of preventive measures is necessary, especially for persons with an endogenous disposition for the development of eczema, e.g.

Is occupational irritant contact dermatitis predictable by cutaneous bioengineering methods? Results of the Swiss Metalworkers' Eczema Study (PROMETES).

Background: Since identification of subjects with high eczema risk by screening tests is desirable, different skin bioengineering methods were studied for their validity as predictive measures for the development of hand eczema.

Methods: 205 metalworker trainees were followed up over 2.5 years from the beginning of their apprenticeship to observe the occurrence of hand eczema.

Role of the atopy score and of single atopic features as risk factors for the development of hand eczema in trainee metal workers.

This study was performed as part of PROMETES (Swiss Prospective Metal Worker Eczema Study) to examine the role of atopy as a possible risk factor for the development of hand eczema in trainee metal workers. In a cohort of 201 young men without any skin problems at the start of their apprenticeship, 9.5% developed signs of dermatitis on their hands within a period of 6 months.