Hands are among the most important tools of the trade in the fishing industry. But until now, there has been only limited knowledge about how widespread hand eczema actually is in the Greenlandic fishing industry.
The fishing industry, which employs around 20 percent of the country’s population, is a sector where hands are used daily in a wet and demanding work environment that places significant strain on the skin. The result can be hand eczema, which typically presents with itching, redness, and scaly skin. Painful cracks in the skin of the hands may also occur.
A new three-year PhD project, “Hand Eczema in the Fishing Industry in Greenland,” which began in May last year, aims to shed light on how widespread these symptoms are within the industry.
Major consequences
The project is led by Mathilde Tuborg, a physician and PhD student at Ilisimatusarfik and the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with the Dermatology Clinic in Nuuk and the Department of Dermatology at Bispebjerg Hospital.
As part of her PhD project, Mathilde has traveled along the coast, visiting the four largest Royal Greenland factories.
“Hand eczema is a common work-related skin disease that can have serious consequences for both quality of life and working life. When you have hand eczema, even simple tasks can become difficult, and for some it can lead to sick leave or concerns about whether they are able to continue working. It is therefore important not only to document the problem, but also to strengthen prevention in one of the country’s most important industries,” says Mathilde.
The overall vision is to increase awareness of skin diseases in Greenland and improve prevention and treatment efforts.
More knowledge — and better prevention
Mathilde’s PhD project investigates hand eczema among employees at Royal Greenland’s factories in Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qasigiannguit, and Maniitsoq.
The project is divided into several sub-studies, which examine the prevalence of hand eczema, identify key risk factors, and assess how the condition affects everyday life—physically, psychologically, and socially.
The project has also developed a prevention program consisting of an informational video, a poster, and teaching materials presenting “10 Practical Tips for the Treatment and Prevention of Hand Eczema.” One of the sub-studies evaluates the effectiveness of this prevention program within the Greenlandic fishing industry.
“The goal is not only to document the problem, but also to create solutions that can be applied in practice—and hopefully both prevent new cases and reduce the severity of hand eczema,” says Mathilde Tuborg.