The BBC recently reported that more than half of the UK’s hairdressers and barbers are suffering from contact dermatitis, mainly due to their work.
Contact dermatitis is an irritation of the skin, often caused by chemicals, or frequent washing or wetting of the hands.
In the UK, it’s estimated that more than 230,000 working days are lost each year to this (preventable) skin problem.
It’s now recommended that any person who handles soaps, shampoos, chemicals or peroxides wear gloves while handling these substances.
Making sure the chemicals are used as intended by the manufacturer, and preventative measures such as protective clothing and emollient creams should also be emphasized.
Contact dermatitis is not a necessary hazard of hairdressing or hairstyling work. With a little bit of planning, you can do the work you love, and keep your skin healthy at the same time.
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Teams of researchers in the UK and Austria have now shown that repeated computer imaging of skin lesions over time accurately and effectively identifies skin cancers before they are recognized by other clinical procedures.
Using sequential dermoscopy (where skin is repeatedly imaged over time) provides significant assistance in tracking so called “featureless melanomas”, that is, melanomas which are malignant, but don’t look to be malignant.
By tracking the computer images of moles over time, scientists can detect these melanomas much earlier than other methods.
By diagnosing melanoma at the early stages, sequential dermoscopy increases the likelihood of melanoma being found early enough to be cured.
In fact, in this study, more than 62% of the melanomas detected did not appear to be malignant, when they, in fact, were.
This technique can also be used to confirm that suspicious skin lesions are not cancerous, by tracking their appearance over time. If they look the same under imaging, doctors can rule out melanoma with greater certainty.
This represents a huge leap forward in the early treatment of malignant skin cancers.
Learn more about suncare for your skin
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If you’ve been following the newest trends in skin care, you’ve probably heard of a new term: nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is a new buzzword in skin care and the cosmetics industry; it refers to the use of very small molecules to help deliver treatments below the skin’s surface.
The biggest complaints about nano-molecules is that they behave differently than their normal-sized counterparts.
This may have adverse reactions for the skin or the environment. For example, one type of nano-particle conducts electricity at nano-size, but does not conduct electricity at full-size.
If this particle were added to cosmetics or skin care products, it may have damaging effects for the individual applying it.
Since many cosmetics and supplements can be sold without FDA approval, this may become a growing issue as nanotechnology allows chemicals to be delivered deeper and deeper into our bodies.
The FDA has created a special group to focus on nanotechnology. We’ll be hearing more about this issue as the science continues to evolve.
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