Skin problems in beauticians.

Introduction

Estheticians represent a fairly large profession worldwide. Their occupation is associated with work-related skin disorders, including contact. dermatitis and mechanical injuries among others. In a study in Poland, for example, it was found that the 21% of hair Stylists and beauticians had some form of occupational skin disease.

Why are beauticians at high risk for occupational skin disorders?

There are many factors that put estheticians at high occupational risk, including:

• A lot of wet work due to contact with water while shampooing
• Exposure to a variety of preservatives, hair dyes, fragrances, and other chemicals in many beauty products, including formaldehyde, acetone, and paraphenylenediamine.
• Exposure to sharp instruments like scissors and razor blades.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.
• Intensive use of latex gloves that can lead to latex development. allergy and contact allergy to rubber accelerators
• A preponderance of low-paid workers with low levels of education.
• Lack of sufficient regulation in many countries.

In many studies of occupational dermatitis, estheticians are cited as having the highest risk of developing work-related skin disorders.

Understanding occupational skin disorders

An occupational skin disorder is a dermatological condition caused by a patient's work or work duties. It is also called skin disease. Occupational skin disease They are responsible for many lost days or work. The patient may have to change professions due to an ongoing skin disease. These dermatoses can occur through occupational exposure to Allergens, irritants, extreme weather conditions and solar radiation. Occupational skin disorders have a major economic impact on employers and employees.

Skin disorders associated with beauticians.

There are several specific skin disorders associated with working as a beautician. They include:

Mechanical injury

Skin lesion:

• It often results from contact with scissors, razors, or other tools / equipment.
• It leads to secondary bacterial skin infections, especially from Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes
• The risk can be reduced by training the employee to handle sharp objects and if an employer agrees to provide safe and up-to-date tools.

Irritating contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is more common than allergic contact dermatitis.

• The primary cause of irritant contact dermatitis is "wet work," or a large amount of exposure to water, as well as soaps and shampoos during client care and hand washing.
• The irritation comes from the constant removal of the skin's natural moisturizing factors during wet work.
• Younger beauticians, who perform a proportionally greater amount of shampoo, have a higher risk of irritating contact dermatitis than older beauticians.
• The risk can be mitigated by wearing gloves for hand protection during wet work.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is common among estheticians.

• Taken together, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis represents the 90% of professional skin disorders for estheticians.
• Allergic contact dermatitis causes inflammation, dryness, itching and / or pain in the skin exposed to allergen.
• Those with a history of atopy (especially atopic eczema) have a higher risk.
• The skin will often improve when you are away from work, but will regress when work is resumed.
• Common causes include rubber gloves, fragrances, preservatives, and hair dye.

Phytophotodermatitis

Phytophotodermatitis is not so extended among beauticians like contact dermatitis, but it is still a risk.

• Occupational phytophotodermatitis is caused by exposing the skin first to perfumes or eau de cologne and then to sunlight (berloque dermatitis).
• Can result in hyperpigmentation of the skin
• The risk can be reduced through the proper use of gloves.

Contact urticaria

Contact urticaria refers to the rapid onset of itching cure in contact with an allergen or irritant in a susceptible individual. Causes may include latex rubber and hair bleach.

Occupational risk assessment

To be effective, a workplace must be evaluated for:

• Protocols for specific tasks (like giving a pedicure),
• Chemicals to which workers are exposed and their individual hazards
• Employee level of education in limiting chemical exposure, safe handling, and sharps disposal
• Use and provision of personal protective equipment.

Once risks have been identified, reducing these risks may include any of the following:

• Selection of softer products, without dyes or fragrances and less toxic disinfectants / cleaners
• Employee education on the safe handling of sharp objects.
• Employee education on the use of personal protective equipment.
• The commitment of both the employer and employees to job security.

Personal protection equipment

Gloves for hand protection are the most widely used form of personal protective equipment among estheticians. Glove use has been shown to reduce exposure to a variety of irritants and allergens. However, if the gloves contain latex or accelerators such as thiuram, they can become allergens. The use of non-latex gloves, and training in proper donning and removal, can reduce these problems.

Tips for hand care for beauticians

Tips for hand care include:

• Proper use of gloves (see above)
• Good hand washing and use of alcohol based gels or disinfectants when appropriate
• Dry hands thoroughly after washing.
• Use of emollients and moisturizers
• Recognition of the first signs of dermatitis.
• Seek medical help if signs and symptoms appear.

Diagnosis and treatment of occupational skin disorders.

The diagnosis of an occupational skin disorder can be based on:

• Complete patient history and physical examination
• Occupational evaluation of the patient to know the work history, conditions, chemicals or other hazards in the patient's workplace, the use of protective equipment, etc.
• Patch Test if allergic contact dermatitis is suspected.

Dermatitis treatment may include:

• Avoid allergen or irritant (skin can recover in a matter of several weeks avoiding completely)
• Use of emollients.
• Use of gloves
• Use of current and / or oral corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Referral to a dermatologist If the skin problem persists or resists simple treatments.