The professions of masseur, balneotherapist and physiotherapist are popular and — in our country — becoming more so; they are associated with exposure to a wide variety of potential allergens and irritants. A review of the current literature on skin disorders and allergies in these professions reveals that only a few case reports are available and that there are no systematic epidemiological and clinical data for skin diseases. Here we present a short synopsis of the relevant job descriptions, statistics of the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) and of the BGW (German Workers’ Compensation Board) and the results of a review of the literature in PubMed. Taken together, these results show that masseurs/ balneotherapists and physiotherapists are exposed to a large number of potentially clinically relevant allergens and noxious substances such as fragrances, volatile oils, preservatives, emulsifiers, topical medicines, rubber materials and irritants. Masseurs and balneotherapists fall within the category of professions doing “wet work”; physiotherapists do not. The available data suggest that skin disorders are not a relevant problem in these professions. However, as there are no relevant clinical-epidemiological studies, it is not possible to assess the situation realistically. We conclude that further occupationally specific epidemiological research in these areas is required. This would probably also help to identify potentially hazardous substances and allergens, e.g., in consumers’ everyday personal care products, and could lead to a more effective primary prevention.
