Wednesday 03 December 2008

Information on Dermatitis

One in two hairdressers are likely to suffer from work-related dermatitis. Dont be one of them!

Barrier creams do not function as protective gloves.  People should not use them in place of carefully selected gloves.  Some barrier creams appear to provide a degree of skin protection under the conditions  for which they were designed.  Others seem to give less protection in practice than their forumulations suggest.  They cannot be considered a form of personal protective equipment (PPE) because:
  • people may not apply them properly, leaving part of their skin uncovered
  • there is no information available on the rate of penetration of substances through barrier creams
  • they may be removed while working, without people noticing
However, barrier creams can play a role in an overall skin care programme. They will help remove dirt during washing, reducing the need to use powerful cleaners or abrasives which may damage the skin.  Using barrier creams may encourage cleanliness, although it could lead to people developing a false sense of security.

There is a campaign website that raises the profile of the Band Hand Day and you can access it by clicking here www.badhandday.hse.gov.uk (external link)

If you have any further queries please email skinproject@hse.gsi.gov.uk