title: Chronic paronychia in a hairdresser.
abstract: Chronic paronychia is a common occupational disease. It is multifactorial and affects a number of different groups of workers. However, the condition is not described as affecting hairdressers although hairdressing is associated with a range of other occupation-related hand conditions. We report an unusual case of chronic paronychia in a female hairdresser which occurred as a consequence of a hair shaft penetrating beneath the nail fold. Personal hygiene with thorough removal of any hairs that have penetrated the epidermis and wearing clean gloves can prevent the condition. We suggest that clinicians should be aware of the types of occupation and mechanisms involved in patients developing chronic paronychia.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, University Hospital of North Durham, Durham DH1 5TW, UK, allouni@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allouni
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, University Hospital of North Durham, Durham DH1 5TW, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yousif
authors.affiliation: Wrightington Hospital, Lancashire WN6 9EP, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001461:Barbering; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010304:Paronychia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Chronic paronychia; hairdresser; injury; nail bed; occupational.