Dermatological Bioengineering Methods in occupational Dermatoses

Overview

The development of bioengineering methods has shifted from the sphere of basic research and is increasingly applied in common practice. In the submitted paper the authors analyze these methods and discuss their application in particular for assessing and defining the risk of eczema, its detection in subclinical forms of the disease, for checking treatment, with special attention to occupational dermatoses.The most widely used methods are assessment of slon hydratation, TEWL, pH of slon, investigation of the aktivity of sebaceous glands, blond flow, slon elasticity, slon surface and its character, cohesion, slon colour with investigation of the degree of erythema and slon thickness. Recently we can add spectrophotometry, chromametry, pro%lometry, confocal microscopy, high frequency dopplerometry and others. The authors discuss different types of instruments incl, a brief description of their function.The main importance of these methods is the possibility to expres data objectively and to evaluate them subsequently by statistical methods. The authors investigated also the reproducibility of methods. Some of the equipment and procedures (assessment of impedance, TEWL, laser-Doppler) make it possible to assess also the risk of slon irritation.Some authors proved that the methods can be used also to investigate the effect of the use of protective substances or to detect contact allergens. These instruments can never replace or be more sensitive in detection than an experienced clinician but their value is in particular in the objective expression of the findings.

Key words:
occupational dermatoses - contact eczema - irritant dermatitis - bioengineering methods