[Milker's hand].

The predominant skin problems in cattle-breeders are toxic and allergic eczemas, with cleansers, water, rubber, disinfectants and fodder being the most frequent provoking factors. The Danish register of occupational diseases yields information based on notifications during the years 1984-1992. Detailed data especially concerning dairy farms are not obtainable, but during the whole period 101 hand-skin diseases in farmers and farming assistants were notified, 12-23 annually in recent years. This number is not alarming, but there is general agreement that underreporting is significant. The main elements of prevention are 1) reduction of harmful actions and 2) optimization of skin resistance. Among the steps that ought to be taken immediately are reduction of contact with cleansing and disinfective agents through change of working methods and behaviour. Alteration of tools, for instance substitution of rubber with less sensibilizing materials, is desirable.