New techniques for occupational skin health surveillance

• Main Author: Taylor, Helen
• Published: London South Bank University 2008
• Subjects: 616.5075
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.478941

The need for effective skin health surveillance has never been more important with recent research highlighting significant underreporting that occurs throughout industry. This underlines the need for effectiveskin health surveillance facilitating remedial action. Where skin health surveillance has been conducted it has largely been restricted to visual assessment, often by non-medical personnel, only identifying clinical and not sub-clinical problems. This project aimed to expand the knowledge and techniques available so that subclinical damage could be detected and a proactive approach to preventing occupational skin disease provided. A number of techniques were investigated with calculation of hydration gradients (using Optothermal Transient Emission Radiometry hydration measurement), occlusion with a Corneometer probe and tape stripping showing promise as methods for distinguishing between normal and sub-clinically damaged skin. Hydration gradient calculation showed a significant difference in means of normal and damaged skin. Use of a Corneometer probe (hydration measurement) to cause occlusion showed a difference in the gradient of the initial rise in hydration depending on whether the skin was damaged or not. Tape stripping using TEWL measurement to monitor the removal of the Stratum Corneum highlighted a difference between normal and damaged skin. The number of tape strips required for Stratum Corneum removal with damaged skin was found to be less than the number required with normal skin. Plotting l/TEWL against tape strip number showed differences in both the gradient and correlation coefficientbetween normal and damaged skin. There are several potential methods for assessing sub-clinical skin damage. In particular occlusion with a Corneometer probe, measurement of hydration gradient and tape stripping showed real potential as methods of identifying sub-clinically damaged skin. Further development of these techniques with larger subject numbers and further development of the techniques or the equipment will lead to more effective skin health surveillance and a reduction in ill health caused by skin exposure to harmful substances.