PREVENTION OF CHRONIC BARBERS ECZEMA

Prevention of chronic barber's eczema has gained considerable importan ce in the recent years. The prevalence of this occupational dermatosis is steadily increasing, causing not only detrimental sequelae for the employees affected, but also accounting for a dramatical rise of cost s in the social insurance system. Pathophysiologically the most import ant factor ist the recently defined ''atopic skin diathesis''. For thi s reason successful preventative concepts have to detect these suscept ible individuals and offer them specific care. We report our primary p revention modell, which links preemployment screening with effective m easure of skin protection, and farthermore combines individual and gro up counseling in a competensive program involving the cooperative effo rts of industrial accident insurances, safety personal, health insuran ces, school authorities and physicians in the field of dermatology and occupational medicine.