Contact Dermatitis Compensation Claims

If you have been diagnosed with Contact Dermatitis within the last 3 years and it is associated with your past or present employment then contact LPS today.

LPS has dedicated Industrial Disease solicitors that have helped thousands of people successfully claim contact dermatitis compensation. We aim to the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim using our No Win No Fee claims process.

What is occupational Dermatitis?

Industrial dermatitis (sometimes called eczema) is one of the major, and most common, occupational skin diseases in the UK. It is caused by a person coming into contact with a hazardous agent or a toxic substance at work. At best, exposed and unprotected skin can be rough and painful. At its worst, cracked and bleeding skin will make it impossible to continue in employment.

Types of Dermatitis

There are 2 types of Dermatitis that can develop due to a work related incident. These are:

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) can be divided into forms caused by chemical irritants, and those caused by physical irritants. Common chemical irritants implicated include:

• solvents (alcohol, xylene, turpentine, esters, acetone, ketones, and others)
• metalworking fluids (neat oils, water-based metalworking fluids with surfactants)
• latex
• kerosene
• ethylene oxide
• surfactants in topical medications and cosmetics (sodium lauryl sulphate)
• alkalis (drain cleaners, strong soap with lye residues)

Physical irritant contact dermatitis may most commonly be caused by low humidity from air conditioning. Also, many plants directly irritate the skin.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Although less common than ICD, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is accepted to be the most prevalent form of immunotoxicity found in humans. By its allergic nature, this form of contact dermatitis is a hypersensitive reaction that is atypical within the population. The mechanisms by which this reaction occurs are complex, with many levels of fine control. Their immunology centres on the interaction of immunoregulatory cytokines and discrete subpopulations of T lymphocytes.

Allergens include:

• nickel
• gold
• Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae)
• chromium,
• Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

What are the symptoms?

Contact dermatitis is a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. Only the superficial regions of the skin are affected in contact dermatitis. Inflammation of the affected tissue is present in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) and the outer dermis (the layer beneath the epidermis). Contact dermatitis results in large, burning, and itchy rashes. These can take anywhere from several days to weeks to heal.

Unlike contact urticaria (hives), in which a rash appears within minutes of exposure and then fades away within minutes to hours, contact dermatitis takes days to fade away. Even then, contact dermatitis fades only if the skin no longer comes in contact with the allergen or irritant. Chronic contact dermatitis can develop when the removal of the offending agent no longer provides expected relief.

What are the causes?

Common causes of allergic contact dermatitis include:

• Nickel
• gold
• Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae)
• Chromium

Common causes of irritant contact dermatitis include:

• solvents
• metalworking fluids
• latex
• kerosene
• ethylene oxide
• surfactants in topical medications and cosmetics
• alkalis
• Low humidity from air conditioning, and many plants.
• Flour
• Cement
• Bleaches
• Glues
• Paints

Other common causes of irritant contact dermatitis are harsh

• alkaline soaps
• detergents
• cleaning products

Industries that can cause dermatitis

• Engineering
• Painting
• Printing
• Hairdressing
• Catering & food preparation
• Nursing
• Fishing
• Agriculture
• Construction

If you work within any of these industries it is important that you ensure that your employer is protecting you against the risk of dermatitis.

What to do now?

It is important that if you believe you could be suffering from Occupational Dermatitis that you contact your GP to diagnose your condition. This will help us when we take on your claim and also help you to get the best possible support to help you with your condition.

If you have already been diagnosed with the condition then contact us to discuss your no obligation No win no fee Occupational Dermatitis compensation claim. Simply call us on 0800 996 1807, text 4myclaim to 88802, chat to us online or complete our short form now and one of our dedicated industrial disease solicitors will be more than happy to discuss your claim.