Irritant contact dermatitis is a wide spread occupational skin condition. In addition to generalized protection and teaching schemes, a knowledge about individual risk might add to an improved awareness for hazards. Here, we report on a novel candidate biomarker, which might stage individual susceptibility to irritant skin damage. Subclinical sensitivity was proven in recent studies. As a nano-anatomical measure, it works non-invasively on corneocytes from tape strips. Here, we report on a 7-day course after exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate and compare the novel cell texture index with the classical markers water loss (transepidermal water loss) and natural moisturizing factor. All parameters show a high degree of correlation.
Keywords: OEESC—skin irritants and wet-working; biological monitoring; dermal exposure; dermal exposure assessment; detergents; exposure assessment; health surveillance; irritancy.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.