title: The role of atopy in occupational skin diseases.
abstract: Atopic individuals are predisposed to work-related hand eczema, predominantly on the basis of a lowered threshold for irritation. They comprise an inordinately large percentage of the more difficult and costly cases. It appears that a history of previous atopic dermatitis, rather than previous respiratory allergies, is a better prognosticator of future work-related dermatitis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology*; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D007509:Irritants