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Dermal toxicity

Glossary Index

Dermatosis

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Dermatitis

Definition

• Dermatitis is an inflammation of the dermis and epidermis (the skin). Symptoms include a rash, blisters, sores, lesions, itching or cracked skin. The term eczema is also used for this condition.

  Do not confuse this term with dermatosis, which is a much broader term for skin disease.

Additional Info

Dermatitis is often broken into subcategories:
1. Contact dermatitis - irritation that arises from direct contact with a material. This can be an immune response (such as an allergic reaction to latex) or a direct toxic effect.

2. Atopic dermatitis - is often found in the face, elbow and knee flexures of infants; symptoms tend to disappear with age.

Books Available

• "Contact & Occupational Dermatology", Hardcover, 431 pages, 2002. Estimated price $375.00. Info and/or order .
• "Occupational Skin Disease", Hardcover, 792 pages, 1999. Estimated price $150.00. Info and/or order.
• "Pesticide Dermatoses", Hardcover, 416 pages, 2001. Estimated price $199.95. Info and/or order.
• "Prevention of Contact Dermatitis (Current Problems in Dermatology, Vol. 25)", Hardcover, 226 pages, 1996. Estimated price $240.00. Info and/or order.
• "Protective Gloves for Occupational Use, Second Edition (Dermatology: Clinical & Basic Science)", Hardcover, 368 pages, 1996. Estimated price $199.95. Info and/or order.
• "Pick Your Poison: How Our Mad Dash to Chemical Utopia is Making Lab Rats of Us All", Hardcover, 256 pages, 2011. Estimated price $17.13. Info and/or order ILPI recommended.

MSDS Relevance

Failure to use proper skin protection (gloves, aprons etc.) can result in irritation or even poisoning by absorption of the material through the skin (see dermal toxicity). Even substances you might think that are rather harmless, such as sawdust, can dry and irritate your skin. Always use properly selected gloves and appropriate protective clothing when working with hazardous materials.

Further Reading Dermatitis at MayoClinic.com. Contact dermatitis at the U of Iowa. Dermatolgy Atlas DOIA includes extensive information about all kinds of skin conditions and features many images. Available in 5 languages! Preventing dermatitis at work - Advice for employers and employees at the U.K.'s HSE (1.4 Mb PDF download). Occupational/Allergic Contact Dermatitis at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. Contact Dermatitis at eMedicine.com, a great resource for health care professionals. Additional resources at FragranceX.com. See also: dermal, dermal toxicity, dermatosis, erythema, urticaria. Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.