[Irritant effect of tensides on occupational dermatitis patients in hairdressing and nursing occupations. Comparative studies of healthy persons and neurodermatitis patients].

The irritational disposition of the skin was studied in a control group of 12 healthy persons, 8 patients with neurodermitis, 11 hairdressers with occupational dermatitis and 11 nurses with occupational dermatitis by using the Duhring-chamber-scarification test. For comparison, the alkali resistance test was also carried out. The results show that with the alkali resistance test the irritational disposition towards tensides may not be judged. The present findings show that the increased irritational disposition toward detergent substances seems to be a constitutional factor which favors the development of occupational dermatitis in hairdressing and nursing jobs; with the patient suffering from atopic dermatitis, one must presume an increased irritational disposition towards tensides in most cases.