Everyday salon tools may expose hairdressers to allergy-triggering metals
When you think of people being exposed to occupational hazards, hairdressers don't come to mind. That may be why regulators often overlook the risks faced by people in this profession. Scientists have uncovered one such risk, with hairdressers regularly coming into contact with substances that can trigger eczema or allergies.
A study published in Contact Dermatitis has uncovered a hidden occupational hazard for hairdressers: the potential for metal ions to leach from their everyday tools and trigger skin allergies. While hairdressers are often not considered at risk for occupational hazards, researchers have found that 13.9% of tested professional tools released nickel and 6.8% released cobalt.
These metals can exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and hand dermatitis, particularly in environments where hairdressers already face weakened skin barriers from daily wet work. The study tested 266 tools from 58 salons across Denmark, revealing that nickel-releasing tools were found in 22 salons, or roughly two-fifths of the sample, while cobalt-releasing tools were detected in 12 salons.
Despite nickel release regulations in consumer products, professional tools occupy a regulatory gray area, prompting researchers to call for stricter oversight and consideration of safer materials in tool construction.
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