title: Skin health and safety at work in Croatian hairdressing apprentices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of developing occupational skin disease (OSD) is high in hairdressers, but may differ between countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety at work measures, and the prevalence and severity of skin symptoms and their impact on quality of life (QoL), among Croatian hairdressing apprentices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on self-reported skin symptoms, safety measures and QoL were collected for 101 final-year apprentices. The presence and severity of skin lesions were assessed with the Osnabrueck Hand Eczema Severity Index (OHSI). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured on the forearm and hand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one percent of apprentices reported wearing gloves while dyeing hair, 45% while rinsing hair dyes, and 4% while washing hair. A history of skin symptoms was found in 35% of apprentices, and a history of dry hands in 37%. Skin changes were clinically observed in 40% of apprentices, most frequently erythema, infiltration, and desquamation. The OHSI score ranged from 0 to 6. Only washing hands >20 times per day was positively associated with TEWL. A history of skin symptoms negatively correlated with self-esteem, and social and mental functioning, and positively with anxiety and depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate the need for the continuation of efforts to establish effective primary preventive programmes for OSDs at national and EU levels.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Practice Ferenc Ledić, 48000, Koprivnica, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samardžić
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Veda Marija
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Varnai
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakotić
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Željka
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, 49080, Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brans
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvijetić Avdagić
authors.affiliation: Trade School for Personal Services, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Darinka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Štampar Šmaguc
authors.affiliation: Trade School for Personal Services, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kovačević
authors.affiliation: Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001461:Barbering; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students; D014829:Vocational Education; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006202:Hair Dyes; D006203:Hair Preparations
keywords: TEWL; educational preventive programmes; hairdressing; hand eczema; occupational skin diseases; quality of life