Dermatitis at Work
Compensation Claims

Things to consider when you claim for dermatitis

• Employers, medical staff and operators of premises accessible to the public all have a duty of care to prevent avoidable harm when handling potentially hazardous chemicals.
• By law, employers must provide suitable gloves, goggles or other PPE to staff at risk of exposure.
• Hairdressers, beauty therapists and other professionals should take precautions, such as a patch test, to detect potential skin allergies.
• You can claim for dermatitis caused by negligence exposure to a harmful chemical at work, medical setting, or in a public place.
• You have up to 3 years from the date you learned what caused your dermatitis.
• Compensation can start at £1,890 for short-term skin conditions, up to £116,300 for serious burns and scarring.
• Compensation varies according to your injury's severity and the financial losses or expenses you've incurred. Use our compensation calculator to estimate your claim.
• You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.

If dermatitis has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Occupational dermatitis claims typically arise from skin conditions due to workplace exposures.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by dermatitis, we can help. If your condition was caused by your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to claim compensation for medical treatment costs, the impact on your employment, and any personal discomfort.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

With 15,000 workers affected by work-caused dermatitis each year, you are not alone

An estimated 15,000 people were working in 2022/23 with skin problems caused or made worse by their work (hse.gov.uk).

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition characterised by redness, itching, blisters and cracking. The condition commonly occurs among hairdressers, cleaners and chemical workers, whose arms and hands are regularly exposed to dyes, bleaches and other irritant and allergenic chemicals.

If dermatitis is caused or brought on by work or a work-related activity, a work-related illness claim for compensation can usually be made.

If you decide to make a dermatitis claim, your solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

If you are looking for information on dermatitis symptoms and treatment, see: contact dermatitis (nhs.uk).

How much compensation can I claim for dermatitis?

Compensation for dermatitis is determined by:

• the severity of your illness,
• how your illness affects your everyday life and work,
• any costs or financial impacts you?ve suffered due to your illness.

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for lost wages, bonuses, benefits and other perks, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as topical corticosteroids, moisturisers and antihistamines.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average dermatitis compensation payouts

The following dermatitis payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Dermatitis

Non-facial body scars

Mental health support after a work accident

In addition to physical injuries, a work accident can inflict lasting psychological harm.

Our 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey reveals the extent of psychological trauma, with 25.00% of claims involving a psychological injury, 64.09% of which related to a physical injury.

Skin conditions like dermatitis can lead to social anxiety (social phobia) and self-consciousness, particularly in visible areas. In turn, this can lead to isolation and depression.

Even after your physical recovery or rehabiliation is complete, hidden psychological injuries can take longer to heal.

Factoring compensation for psychological harm will ensure you receive mental health support and other therapies that may not be readily available on the NHS in your area.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

Do I qualify for dermatitis compensation?

Yes, you can make an injury claim for dermatitis, if:

• you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
• another person was responsible, and;
• that person owed a duty of care to prevent foreseeable hazards.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

Compensation claims with shared fault

It's not unusual for personal injury claims to involve fault on both sides.

In our 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 26.02% of injured workers felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.

You could still be able to claim even if you were partly responsible for your illness. If you were injured at work, you can claim compensation from your employer under the principle of vicarious liability - even if you or another employee caused your illness.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to make a dermatitis injury claim?

For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.

If your injury or illness is not immediately apparent, the 3-year time limit starts from the date that you injury or illness was diagnosed and your were informed of the likely caused.

The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.

Understanding work-related dermatitis claims in the UK

Working with wet hands, and contact with soap and other cleaning materials, are the most common causes. Others include latex, rubber, petroleum, cements, flour and nickel. Dermatitis can also be biological (plant or bacteria), physical (vibration or radiation) or mechanical (abrasion).

The condition can be caused by prolonged exposure, excessive exposure, splashes, touches or contaminated surfaces. Alternatively, airborne substances can deposit on the skin.

According to the HSE, occupations with the highest rates are florists, hairdressers, cooks, beauticians, and certain manufacturing and health care related occupations (THOR-EPIDERM).

Hands are most at risk, but dermatitis can affect the face and other parts of the body. A difficult condition to live with, it can cause significant pain and discomfort. Some people become permanently sensitised to certain substances, and may have to give up work because of it.

When is dermatitis cause for a claim?

Employers are legally required to protect employees from workplace hazards, including substances causing dermatitis. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (hse.gov.uk) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (hse.gov.uk) regulations, employers must take reasonable steps to identify, assess, and minimize workers' exposure to these hazards.

This risk management should include providing training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and appropriate tools and facilities. Failure to carry out appropriate risks assessments and to mitigate risks can amount to negligence, and this would entitle affected employees to claim compensation for occupational dermatitis.

Read more:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) injury claims

How do I prove my dermatitis is work-related?

The first obstacle in a dermatitis compensation claim is demonstrating that the condition is work-related. Even where a dermatologist confirms you have dermatitis, establishing the cause can sometimes be difficult.

Demonstrating when symptoms occurred and if they correlated with a new job or a change in work conditions, such as the introduction of a new chemical or substance, can be vital.

Any evidence that can be gathered will be important. This includes:

• Medical diagnosis and prognosis on the condition
• Company accident records if it was caused by a single incident
• Physical proof of the suspected causal agent, including insufficient PPE
• Documented evidence of the companies health and safety procedures
• Witness accounts from fellow colleagues

An employer could argue in their defence that adequate safety measures were in place, and that the employee contributed to their health condition by not following the correct practices or wearing the specified safety gear. You may still be able to claim compensation in these situations, although the amount of compensation you receive could be reduced.

What affects the process when claiming for dermatitis?

Your dermatitis circumstances will shape the claims process. Click the icons below for more information.

Work accidents Public places Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.