Allergic diseases frequency and risk factors in hairdressers and barbers

Aim: In hairdressers or barbers; various occupational diseases occur after exposure to products used during hair care services such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, styling, hair extensions and procedures such as facial and limb epilation, make-up application, nail and skin care services. Asthma, respiratory symptoms and skin diseases are among the most common occupational diseases. Respiratory exposure of persulfates, especially in hair bleaches, causes asthma by creating an irritant effect on the respiratory tract. Skin exposure of it also causes causes both delayed and immediate skin reactions such as contact dermatitis, localized contact urticaria and generalized urticaria. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to examine the frequency of allergic diseases and risk factors in hairdressers and barbers. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out with the participation of 196 female and male hairdressers in Malatya between 01.01.2021 and 01.01.2022. It is a cross-sectional prospective study in which a questionnaire form was created to investigate the frequency and risk factors of allergic diseases in male and female hairdressers in Malatya, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews with hairdressers in Malatya. Analyzes were evaluated in 22 package programs of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 196 participants, 73 (37.2%) female and 123 (62.8%) male, were included in the study. 77 (39.3%) of the participants have been working in the profession for less than 10 years, 65 (33.2%) of them for 10-20 years and 54 (27.6%) of them for more than 20 years. There was a family history of atopy in 55 (28.1%) of the participants, and the most common disease in their families was found to be asthma (17.3%). In 16.8% of the participants, it was observed that the allergy was related to the occupation. The incidence of asthma in patients with additional chronic diseases (36.4%) was found to be statistically significantly higher than the rate of those without (9.7%) (p<0.05). The incidence of asthma in patients with a family history of atopy was found to be statistically significantly higher than those without (p<0.05). The incidence of asthma in workers with eye allergy and drug allergy was statistically significantly higher than those without (p<0.05). The rate of incidence of asthma was found to be significantly higher in the workers who had a relation with the allergy to the occupation (p<0.05). It was determined that allergenic substances that come into contact with the respiratory and skin routes cause more asthma at a statistically significant level (p<0.05). A family history of atopy increases asthma risk 12.1 (OR) times, eye allergy 3.3 times, contact dermatitis 3.1 times, drug allergy 5.6 times, hairdressing profession 8.7 times, respiratory allergens 8.3 times, both respiratory and skin contact allergens 7.8 times, shampoos 4.0 times and persulfate salts 2.7 times. Conclusions: Atopy and occupational exposure are the main factors that increase the risk of asthma in hairdressers and barbers. Having a family history of atopy, family history of allergic diseases and different allergic diseases increase the risk of developing allergic diseases. Respiratory and skin contact allergens pose a greater risk for asthma. Shampoos and persulfate salts are major chemicals that increase the risk of developing occupational asthma. Keywords: Allergy, asthma, barber, hairdresser, occupational diseas