Posted By Patrick Allen
A few points to consider.
You need to consider if it is irritant dermatitis (usually due to prolonged wet work aggravated by detergent wetting effects) or allergic contact dermatitis (some hair product chemicals are sensitisers), or both (the former leading to, or aggravating the latter).
Irritant dermatitis can effect anyone, although some skin types are more easily damaged than others. In essence the skin is being physically damaged by being degreased and abraded. This is the easier to control of the two types. Use of pre–moisturisers (I avoid the description “barrier” cream as this gives rise to a false sense of security, and has been pointed out by someone else some actually increase rate of absorption of some chemicals), appropriate gloves (used properly) and then proper drying, (patting not rubbing, with a soft surface towel, particular attention to webs of fingers etc.) and then a moisturiser, again properly applied. Avoid anything perfumed (as some perfumes are sensitisers), in fact simple aqueous moisturisers used extensively, such as the ubiquitous “E45” (this is not an advert, I have no connection, and many other similar product will do – ask your pharmacist, but not a cosmetics salesman), are usually much better than more expensive promoted brand name “cosmetic” moisturisers.
Allergic contact dermatitis is much more of a challenge, as once a person is sensitised it can have lifelong debilitating impact to any future exposure to the same chemical. Definitely a case where prevention should be the first strategy. Different individuals have significantly different chances of developing this on the same exposure,. A family history of asthma or excema is often indicative of increased risk of developing such allergic responses. Skin pre damaged by irritant dermatitis will be more vulnerable to sensitisers.
Most gloves are carefully designed to give good grip, as this is usually a critical criteria. In hairdressing you specifically want to avoid grip, so that customers hair does not catch on the glove surface. Hence the need for specialist gloves, as previously mentioned. Also they need to be the right material for the chemical(s) of concern.
As with any COSHH issue consider the product, and if you cannot avoid it altogether, substitute with less hazardous ones. Curiously although most companies do produce material data safety sheets, there is an argument that as these are “cosmetic products” they are exempt from CHIP, so any duty on the supplier may lie under their general duties under the main Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, rather than detailed subsiduary regulation.
If someone gets sensitised to one of the common hairdressing chemicals then the person may well have to cease being a hairdresser and may even have to avoid those hair treatments, even as a customer, for the rest of their life.
Correct use of gloves is important. They are often not used well due to lack of thought, lack of training and lack of supervision. In particular the thing to be avoided must not get inside the glove, either by diffusion or chemical attack penetration (more usually a problem with specific chemicals than prolonged “wet work”), contamination of the glove when being put on, run back from the arm back inside the glove (longer gloves needed, some people find an extra long glove with a little rolled back acts as a drip ledge shedding the excess onto the floor instead of up the arm - but watch out for a slip hazard being created instead) or contamination of the hands when taking them off. Also prolonged wearing of waterproof gloves will give rise to sweating, meaning the hand is still effectively being kept wet for prolonged periods. Lined gloves may help with this.
Disposable gloves, changed often enough, overcome some of these issues, but reusable ones can be OK for irritant dermatitis, if well chosen, well treated and, in particular, properly stored so as to fully dry internally before reuse. Beware latex gloves as latex is a well known sensitiser.
This is a major issue in hairdressing, and a bit like most long term “Occupational Health” rather than immediate “Safety” issues, is not given the consideration it needs. If one third of all hairdressers had a finger chopped off occupationally there would be an outcry, the fact that one third (or more) get regular dermatitis that can lead to permanent damage, seems to be disregarded, even though with care it is largely avoidable.
Patrick Allen