How much skin protection cream is actually applied in the workplace? Determination of dose per skin surface area in nurses.

BACKGROUND

Skin protection creams (PCs) are used in the occupational setting to prevent irritant hand dermatitis. However, so far, the actual amounts of PC applied and the resulting dose per area unit on hands at work have not been a matter of systematic investigation. The quantities used in experimental studies investigating the efficacy of PCs range between 4 and 25 mg/cm(2).

OBJECTIVES

To develop a practical and accurate method to analyse the actual consumed quantities of PCs at workplaces in relation to hand surface area.

METHODS

Thirty-one hospital nurses without hand eczema were provided with a sample PC in special monitoring tubes with Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS TrackCaps(®); Aardex Ltd, Zug, Switzerland), and used the product over 5 working days as usual. The consumption was calculated by weighing of the tubes and analysis of the application frequency, and related to the individual calculated hand surface area.

RESULTS

The mean PC dose applied was 0.97 ± 0.6 mg/cm(2).

CONCLUSIONS

The amounts of PC applied by hospital nurses were significantly lower than the amounts that have been used in experimental studies. The method appears to be suitable for use in different in occupational settings. Further investigations are needed to gain realistic insights into consumers' attitudes regarding PCs.