Skin Characteristics of Hairdresser Apprentices at the Beginning of Vocational Training

Abstract

Background Hairdresser apprentices (HAs) are at high risk of developing occupational contact dermatitis. Objectives To assess skin characteristics of HAs, using genotyping, clinically observed and self-reported skin symptoms, and skin bioengineering methods at the beginning of apprenticeship. Methods During the screening phase of a prospective cohort study, we recruited 352 HAs in 24 Croatian towns. The protocol included the following: questionnaires with self-reported skin and atopy symptoms evaluation, Osnabrueck Hand Eczema Severity Index (OHSI) for clinical skin assessment, genotyping FLG (filaggrin) gene mutations, skin pH, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements. Results Self-reported skin symptoms were reported by 12%, history of dry hands by 29%, and history of atopy by 46% of HAs. Skin changes were found at the clinical examination in 18% of the HA. The OHSI score was positively correlated with hand TEWL and hand skin pH in multiple regression linear models. An FLG gene mutation was found in 1 apprentice. Conclusions Significant prevalence of clinically observed skin signs on the hands was observed in HAs at the beginning of training. The OHSI score was found to be an independent predictor of higher hand TEWL and skin pH values. The need to ameliorate preventive examinations before the enrolment to hairdressing schools was indicated. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Not provided

Index Keywords

adverse event female human male questionnaire Humans adolescent Article risk factor Vocational education human experiment occupational exposure follow up cohort analysis clinical assessment prospective study Prospective Studies clinical examination headache hairdresser occupational eczema eczema Dermatitis, Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Occupational hand eczema hand disease Hand Dermatoses atopy bioengineering dermatitis dry skin erythema gene mutation genotyping psoriasis skin manifestation skin pruritus skin water loss vitiligo skin allergy Barbering Follow-Up Studies

Author Affiliations

Unit for Occupational and Environmental Health, Institut za Medicinska Istrazivanja i Medicinu Rada, Zagreb, Croatia

Mutagenesis Unit, Institut za Medicinska Istrazivanja i Medicinu Rada, Zagreb, Croatia

Funding & Acknowledgements

No funding information

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Skin Characteristics of Hairdresser Apprentices at the Beginning of Vocational Training

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