[Efficacy of the use of barrier creams in the prevention of dermatological diseases in textile dyeing and printing plant workers: results of a randomized trial].

A total of 942 workers of 13 dyeing and printing factories in the area of Como (N. Italy) were examined in order to detect skin complaints on the hands and forearms. Of these, 868 were eligible for and consented to participate in a controlled and randomized experiment aimed at assessing the efficacy of using barrier creams in practical circumstances. 657 workers underwent all three control examinations arranged over about one year. In the randomized group for treatment with barrier creams the cumulative incidence of objective skin lesions was significantly lower than in the group in which no particular recommendation of use was made (44.5% versus 54.4% positive for objective examination in at least one of the three control examinations after recruitment: 95% confidence limits of the difference between 2%-17% percentages; 39.9% versus 47.0% in subjects who were negative at the recruitment examination, 59.0% versus 76.8% in subjects who were positive at the recruitment examination). The use of a hydrocarbon cream was significantly more effective than using a silicone cream (95% confidence limits of the differences of cumulative incidences: -10.9% +20.7% comparing silicone creams with non-treatment; 2.8%-20.2% comparing hydrocarbon creams with non-treatment).