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Impact of Occupational Skin Health Education on Skin Protection Practices among Hairdressers in Nigeria

Abstract

Occupational skin health is an important public health concern among hairdressers because their work frequently involves repeated contact with hair dyes, bleaching agents, relaxers, shampoos, conditioners, disinfectants, solvents, fragrances, and other chemical or irritant substances. Prolonged or repeated exposure to these substances, together with frequent hand washing, prolonged contact with water, heat, and inadequate use of protective equipment, may contribute to occupational skin problems such as irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, skin dryness, itching, redness, and chemical burns. Despite these risks, many hairdressers may have limited knowledge of occupational skin hazards, early warning signs, appropriate protective measures, and safe chemical-handling practices. Occupational skin health education provides an opportunity to improve awareness and promote practical strategies for reducing workplace skin exposure. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of occupational skin health education on skin protection practices among hairdressers in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Social Ecological Model. The Health Belief Model explains how hairdressers' perceptions of susceptibility to occupational skin problems, perceived severity, perceived benefits of protective practices, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their adoption of skin-protection behaviours. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes learning through observation, demonstration, practice, reinforcement, feedback, and self-efficacy in developing appropriate occupational health practices. The Social Ecological Model emphasizes the influence of individual, interpersonal, workplace, community, and environmental factors on occupational health behaviour. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how occupational skin health education may influence skin protection practices among hairdressers in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise adult hairdressers aged 18 years and above working in selected formal and informal hairdressing salons across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, commercial areas, salons, and eligible hairdressers. Occupational skin health education will be assessed using indicators such as frequency and duration of educational sessions, information on chemical hazards, safe handling of hair products, use of protective gloves, hand hygiene, skin-care practices, prevention of chemical burns, recognition of early skin symptoms, safe storage of chemicals, ventilation, spill management, availability of educational materials, practical demonstrations, and follow-up education. Skin protection practices will be assessed using indicators such as consistent use of appropriate protective gloves, appropriate hand-washing practices, use of protective clothing where necessary, avoidance of prolonged direct contact with chemicals, proper handling and storage of hair products, prompt management of chemical spills, appropriate skin moisturization, protection of damaged skin, adequate workplace ventilation, recognition and reporting of occupational skin symptoms, and appropriate healthcare-seeking when skin problems occur. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, standardized occupational skin-health knowledge and practice assessment tools, workplace observation checklists, and relevant occupational-health programme records. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, occupational exposures, exposure to skin-health education, and skin protection practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the impact of occupational skin health education on skin protection practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, skin-protection practice scores before and after the educational intervention may be compared with those of a comparison group to determine changes associated with the intervention. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that occupational skin health education has a significant positive impact on skin protection practices among hairdressers in Nigeria. Hairdressers exposed to structured occupational skin health education are expected to demonstrate greater adoption of appropriate protective practices than those without comparable exposure. Education may improve awareness of the skin hazards associated with hair chemicals and encourage consistent use of appropriate gloves, safer chemical-handling procedures, adequate hand care, and prompt management of chemical exposure. Practical demonstrations may strengthen hairdressers' ability to correctly use protective equipment, recognize early signs of occupational dermatitis, protect damaged skin, and seek appropriate medical or dermatological care when necessary. Education may also encourage improved workplace ventilation and safer storage and handling of chemical products. However, the cost and availability of protective equipment, discomfort associated with prolonged glove use, inadequate salon ventilation, limited access to occupational health services, workplace habits, financial pressures, and misconceptions about occupational skin risks may reduce effectiveness. The study therefore expects accessible, practical, culturally appropriate, and occupationally relevant skin health education to contribute significantly to improved skin protection practices among hairdressers in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on occupational skin health, occupational dermatitis, chemical exposure, workplace health education, personal protective equipment, informal-sector occupational health, hairdressing safety, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, state ministries of health and labour, occupational health practitioners, dermatologists, environmental health officers, community health workers, salon associations, hairdressing organizations, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for preventing occupational skin disorders among hairdressers. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating occupational skin health education into workplace health programmes, improving access to appropriate protective equipment, promoting safer chemical-handling practices, strengthening occupational health screening, improving salon ventilation and hygiene, and developing practical skin-protection interventions for hairdressers and other informal-sector workers across Nigeria.

Keywords: Occupational skin health education, skin protection practices, hairdressers, occupational dermatitis, chemical exposure, skin health, workplace safety, personal protective equipment, informal-sector workers, Nigeria, public health.