title: A quantification of occupational skin exposures and the use of protective gloves among hairdressers in Denmark.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational hand eczema is common in hairdressers, owing to excessive exposure to wet work and hairdressing chemicals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify occupational skin exposure and the use of protective gloves among hairdressers in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  A register-based study was conducted comprising all graduates from hairdressing vocational schools from 1985 to 2007 (n = 7840). The participants received a self-administered postal questionnaire in May 2009, including questions on hairdressing tasks performed in the past week at work and the extent of glove use. A response rate of 67.9% (n = 5324) was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the respondents, 55.7% still worked as hairdressers, and they formed the basis of this study. Daily wet work was excessive; 86.6% had wet hands for ≥2 hr, and 54% for ≥ 4 hr. Glove use was fairly frequent for full head hair colouring and bleaching procedures (93-97.7%), but less frequent for highlighting/lowlighting procedures (49.7-60.5%) and permanent waving (28.3%). Gloves were rarely worn during hair washing (10%), although this was more frequently the case after hair colouring procedures (48.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational skin exposure was excessive among hairdressers; the extent of wet work and chemical treatments was high, and glove use was inconsistent, especially for certain hair colouring procedures and wet work tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-Allergology, Research Centre for Hairdressers and Beauticians, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark. sushov04@geh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Susan Hovmand
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lysdal
authors.forename: Jeanne Duus
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Mari-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Flyvholm
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Søsted
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058206:Hair Bleaching Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014867:Water / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D058206:Hair Bleaching Agents; D006202:Hair Dyes; D014867:Water