Biophysical parameters of skin and nail signs observed in irritant and allergic contact hand eczema

Various nail disorders may accompany to hand eczema, which constitutes more than 80 percent of all occupational dermathologic diseases and whose prevalance rate varies from 2 to 10 percent. Occupational or domestic exposure to irritants or allergens may initiate contact eczema, often located on the hands. Yet, water-binding capacity, hydration of stratum corneum, segregation of sebum and skin?s acid mantle are all identified as the barrier functions protecting skin from outer effects.In this study, by examining the severity of eczema and the biophysical parameters of the skin, it has been aimed to determine the frequency and type of accompanying nail disorders in cases who already developed hand eczema.Sixty patients pre-diagnosed with hand eczema participated in the study as study group and sixty cases with no hand eczema related complains were considered as control group. The severity of eczema was decided by using ?Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI)? and all nail signs of patients in study group and in control group were recorded. The hydration capacity of stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss, pH and skin surface sebum as the biophysical parameters of skin were determined by measurements made on the hands of cases in both groups.In this study, it was observed that in comparison to the control group, the patients with hand eczema in study group had more nail disorder with statistically significant result. In addition, it was found that the severity of eczema and the frequency of observed nail disorders yielded a statistically significant relationship. The most frequently observed nail signs were nail pits with 35 percent, Beau line with 20 percent and onycholysis with 10 percent. In this study, it was determined that hydration capacity as one of the biophysical parameters of skin decreased significantly at patients with hand eczema by comparison to control group. On the other hand, the difference between the values of transepidermal water loss, sebum and pH in both group of cases, namely study and control groups, did not exhibit a statistically significant result.In conclusion, based on the results of the study, it should be taken into account that some nail disorders such as onychodystrophy, onycholysis and Beau lines may accompany to clinical symptoms of patients diagnosed with hand eczema. With respect to the barrier functions of skin, it is observed that the hydration capacity of stratum corneum is especially influenced.Keywords: Hand eczema, hydration capacity of stratum corneum, nail, pH, sebum, transepidermal water loss