Excessive Hand Washing Leads to Increased Cases of Dermatitis

Constant hand washing is a must in the health care profession. But is the practice actually responsible for creating infections for health care workers? That’s the question researchers posed in a new study conducted at the University of Manchester in England. According to that study, increased hand washing is to blame for a dramatic increase in dermatitis among health care workers.

The study analyzed data reported by dermatologists for work-aggravated cases of dermatitis. Between 1996 and 2012, work-aggravated dermatitis increased 4.5 times for health care workers while other occupations showed no increase. The cracked skin leaves health care workers more susceptible to infection and less enthusiastic about hand washing.

The study’s lead researcher, Jill Stocks, PhD, said, "Obviously we don't want people to stop washing their hands, so more needs to be done to procure less irritating products and to implement practices to prevent and treat irritant contact dermatitis."

To learn more about the study, read the entire article.