Every day farmers are in contact with agents that may damage skin. Farmers are often exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, chemicals, or diseases passed from animals. It is important to recognize the dangers and to know how to prevent skin damage or disease.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It serves many important functions, including:
• Protecting the body from organisms and foreign substances
• Maintaining body temperature
• Sensing (touch, temperature)
Contact Dermatitis – Inflammation of the Skin
Inflammation of the skin is a common problem. There are two types of contact dermatitis, which can be difficult to tell apart.
“Irritant dermatitis” is caused by soaps, fertilizers, pesticides, fuels, solvents, plants, grains, or other agents. Symptoms usually occur on the hands or face and might include redness of skin, blisters, scales, crusts or changes in pigmentation. Usually, irritant reactions develop within a few hours after exposure and are at their worst after about 24 hours.
“Allergic dermatitis” is caused by direct contact with allergenic substances. Allergies can develop suddenly, even after many years without a skin reaction. Common agricultural skin allergens include pesticides, veterinary products, oats, barley, or other plants and insect parts. The skin may be itchy, painful, red, swollen or covered in small blisters. Symptoms usually occur at the site of contact. An allergic reaction usually starts within 12 hours of exposure and is at its worst after three to four days, slowly improving in about seven days.
Effects of Sun on Skin
Sunlight is made up of visible, infrared and ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays can cause:
• Skin damage such as sunburn and premature aging
• Skin cancer
• Eye disorders
• Immune system damage
Warning Signs of Skin Cancer
• Any unusual skin condition which does not heal in four weeks.
• Sore, oozing or scaly patches on the skin.
• A persistent white patch on the lip.
• A mole or freckle that grows quickly, changes shape or color, bleeds or itches.
The most common form of cancer, skin cancer, is largely preventable and can be successfully treated if recognized early. There is no such thing as a “healthy” tan. Too much sun increases the risk of skin cancer; however, there is a lag time of between 10 and 30 years for skin cancer to develop, which may lead to a false sense of security. Several blistering sunburns as a child doubles the risk of skin cancer (especially melanoma) later in life.
Types of Skin Cancer
1. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It often appears as small raised bump that has a smooth pearly appearance. It is highly curable, treated by curettage and electrodessication (scraping and then burning with an instrument like an arc welder) or by surgical excision.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma is more serious, but small lesions are generally treatable. This type often appears on the nose, forehead, hands, ears and lower lip. It may appear as a firm red bump and may feel scaly, develop a crust, or bleed. It is treated by surgical excision and sometimes by radiation.
3. Melanoma is the least common, but most serious type, of skin cancer. Melanoma usually grows from an existing mole that may get bigger, change color, become lumpy, bleed, or turn into a scab and itch. This form of skin cancer is treated by wide surgical excision. If lymph nodes are positive for melanoma cells, chemotherapy may be needed.
Solar keratoses or “sunspots” are pre-cancerous growths characterized by red or pinkish areas, with a thin white scale. If one picks at the scale, it feels like there is a needle piercing the skin. If left untreated by anti-cancer cream or liquid nitrogen, “sunspots” may develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
Success in treating skin cancer depends on the extent, stage and kind of cancer, and the response to treatment. However, the best safeguard against all types of skin cancer is prevention and early detection.
Skin Diseases Caused by Bacteria and Other Organisms
Ringworm is a type of fungal infection, most commonly passed to humans from infected cattle, puppies and kittens. Diagnosis can be difficult. Lesions are often present on parts of the skin in contact with sores on an animal. Ringworm is treated with oral antifungal drugs and antifungal creams.
Scabies is an organism living on cattle, pigs and in grain dust. Common symptoms include an itchy rash on the hands, wrists, chest and abdomen, which often worsens at night. Treatment consists of topical application of medications.
Ticks
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be fatal without treatment. Symptoms include a high fever, lack of energy and a headache behind the eyes. A reddish rash usually develops on the palms of hands and soles of feet.
Lyme Disease is passed to humans by ticks, usually from white-tailed deer. A small, raised bump begins at the site of the tick bite. The area around the bite slowly expands and reddens, accompanied by fever, tiredness and headache. Arthritis may develop in knees or other large joints. Symptoms tend to flare up every one to three weeks, and slowly decrease in severity over 2 or 3 years.
