Download and print poster
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin resulting from direct contact of a substance with the surface of the skin 1 .
What is contact dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis is an infammation of the skin resulting from direct contact of a substance such as solvents or other chemicals with the surface of the skin.
There are two types of contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. The symptoms can be itching, pain, rashes, bumps, burning skin and blisters.1
The most common form of contact dermatitis is Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ICD), which is caused when substances such as solvents or other chemicals irritate the skin. The exposure produces red, often more painful than itchy, patches on the involved skin areas.1
Why is contact dermatitis a problem?
A recent survey of 550 practicing operating theatre surgeons and nurses showed2 :
-
31%
of surgeons and nurses have personally experienced a skin reaction on their hands in the operating theatre.
-
34%
34% of those who experienced a reaction, said the skin reaction had a negative impact on their quality of life.
-
16.2%
of those who experienced a reaction, reported they had been distracted from their work due to a skin reaction to surgical gloves.
-
20%
Nearly 20% of those who had experienced a reaction had to change gloves during an operation (due to a reaction).
What can be done to avoid contact dermatitis?
-
Approach your occupational health team for an assessment of your reaction*
-
Do not don gloves with wet hands. Water is a potential irritant. Frequent exposure causes swelling and shrinking of skin and can lead to dermatitis 3
-
Avoid detergents and opt for alcohol based hand rubs to reduce skin irritation
-
Use moisturising skincare products that contain emollients
-
Wear gloves that do not contain chemical accelerators that are known to cause contact dermatitis. Biogel PI UltraTouch S is designed to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis, and made using a skin friendly formula 4 .
-
.
Download & learn how to manage contact dermatitis
Biogel PI UltraTouch S
- The same comfortable fit and precise feeling Biogel® surgical gloves are known for 5 6 7
- Designed to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis, and made using a skin friendly formula 4
- Competitor gloves are 3.5x as likely to fail compared to Biogel® gloves 8
- Best-in-class Puncture Indication 8 9 to ensure breaches are spotted quickly
- FDA cleared to reduce the potential for sensitizing users to rubber chemical additives 10
Order a free sample of Biogel PI UltraTouch S
-
References
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2019. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/contact-dermatitis.
- Survey conducted by SERMO. 550 actively practicing UK, US, Swedish and Japanese surgeons and OR nurses responded to a survey on allergic reactions in the operating theatre. Dec 2019.
- Behroozy A. Wet-work Exposure: A Main Risk Factor for Occupational Hand Dermatitis. SAF Health Work 2014.
- Final Design Verification Report. Mölnlycke Health Care. Data on File.
- Collins J. A Clinical Evaluation of Polyisoprene Biogel Orthopaedic Surgical Gloves. Design Validation DP36_/3.6.1, Mölnlycke Health Care 2011.
- Collins J. A Clinical Investigation to Evaluate the Biogel PI Micro Surgical Glove to Ensure Performance as Intended. Clinical Investigation Report, Mölnlycke Health Care 2014.
- Testing of PI UltraTouch S. Simulated surgery product evaluation. Mölnlycke Health Care 2019. Data on file.
- Wigmore SJ & Rainey JB. Use of coloured undergloves to detect puncture. BJS 1994: 81:1480. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.1800811026
- MHC Report, Glove puncture detection systems, GMCS-2017-098. Data on file.
- FDA clearance information K191869
Related articles
Read all-
Gloves | 2 min read Culture of OR safety: Double gloving for effective hand protection
Improving surgical gloving practice
-
Gloves | 1 min read OR sustainability: A holistic system understanding
How do surgical gloves affect sustainability and the global environment?
-
Gloves | 1 min read The new generation of (NRL) surgical gloves
Surgical gloves and raw materials – time for re-appraisal?
-
Gloves | 1 min read Creating a Consensus document for surgical gloving best practice – Part 1
The first part discusses the need to create a Consensus document with recommendations for surgical gloving best practice.
-
Gloves | 1 min read Creating a Consensus document for surgical gloving best practice - Part 2
Part two discusses the role of a Consensus work to overcome the challenges of implementing change.
-
Gloves | 1 min read Balancing practice and theory in the OR
Swedish OR nurses’ preventive interventions to reduce bacterial growth and SSIs, and to increase comfort in patients undergoing surgery
-
Gloves | 2 min read The role of chemicals in medical gloves
Challenges and opportunities with chemicals in surgical gloves - meeting customer expectations
-
Gloves | 2 min read Protocol to practice: Single to double gloving
How to implement a double gloving protocol in practice
-
Gloves | 2 min read Strategies for active OR quality improvement
Using improvement science to drive change in the operating room