Barbershop/Salon and Environmental Health

There are some bumps on my forehead: hair itching and head lice. Many people experience this same phenomenon after visiting a barbershop or salon. Barbershops and salons are part of our culture. We love well-groomed hair, and ladies love hair that is well-done in the latest style. Barbershops are also a place where we discuss social issues, current affairs, and sports. However, on the flip side, they are a source and transmission route for many diseases due to unsanitary conditions.

This article will discuss prevalent diseases and suggest some preventative measures that barbershops and salons can take from the view point of environmental health.

Many diseases can occur in the salon and barbershop industry due to unsanitary practices, such as dirty clippers, unsterilised razor blades, and dirty sinks. These practices can transmit diseases such as herpes. We will look at at least three diseases and suggest simple but effective preventative measures when visiting a barbershop or salon.

Diseases

One can contract many infections at the barbershop or salon, including lice, tetanus, and impetigo.

Lice is a common infection that many fear, but it is one of the most prevalent within the barbershop and salon industry. Lice can be transmitted by sharing a comb or contacting an infected person. Symptoms include constant itching of the scalp or beard in men.

Tetanus is not common in the Caribbean context. We think this may be caused by getting pricked by an old rusty nail or scissors. However, these are very common in the barbering industry, and people often get cut or scraped by rusty barbering tools.

Lastly, impetigo is a bacterial infection caused by streptococcus and staphylococcus strains. People of any age can get infected with impetigo through skin contact, which may cause skin discolouration or yellowing.

Prevention

Barbershops and salons, like food establishments, require plenty of care and attention. Thus, preventing the transmission of any of the above diseases is critical. Therefore, clients, barbers, and hair stylists must be aware of prevention and infection control in their trade. They must:

1. Clean and sterilise all equipment to the correct calibration with appropriate chemicals, such as alcohol and sanitising agents.

2. Prohibit the reuse of blades as they are a source of many diseases, including hair and skin infections.

3. Ensure clients are aware of any skin or hair infections before visiting the salon, and barbers and hair stylists should be mindful of these to minimise the spread or contact before working.

4. Ensure barbershops and salons have healthy layouts and all necessary equipment and facilities convenient for their clients, such as proper handwash stations, washroom facilities, and autoclaves.

5. Ensure barbershops and salons are inspected and licensed by the relevant state agency for public health.

Being well-groomed and having ladies' hair done is a modern-day luxury, but it comes at a cost. It can negatively impact the health and well-being of clients after they leave these places. Thus, health is your wealth