I forgot my hairdressing gloves … Oops!

Alice grew up in grandmother Isaura’s hairdresser, between combers, dryers, brushes of various shapes and sizes, sprayers, combs, and curlers.

As a child she used to spend the afternoons sitting on the curlers cart, observing the millimeter scissors cuts that grandmother applied on the hair of the grown ladies.

Growing older, she continued to cultivate a taste for that sometimes overlooked art, which involved cutting (or at least modifying) hair and giving smiles instead.

Positive part of the smiles: when they are given, they multiply.

And it’s addictive! So addictive that … well, Alice eventually went to hairdressing school and soon saw her name along with her grandmother’s in that establishment of her childhood.

Today, however, she came to the pharmacy for advice.

Like a Viking warrior of days gone by, her fire-red hair caught in a long double braid, of which I could hardly look away as I listened to her case:

“I have an unbearable itch on my hands!” She showed me more. In addition to being swollen, small pimples began to appear.

I asked if she had been in touch with anything other than the usual. “Yesterday we promoted the “Open Day” hairdresser, it was full of technical work, colorings, nuances, highlights, and permanents … and …” There was light on her face as she explained. – I forgot to put on my gloves … Oops! Is it very serious?!

It really is not advised at all. This may be the case: contact of paints (or other products considered “irritating”) with the skin causes a reaction called contact dermatitis.

What should I do?

Very Important: Identify and AVOID the substance that causes irritation or allergy.

– Wash the affected area with water (and soap if appropriate), and then dry thoroughly. This is to remove remnants of the irritating substance that may have remained on the skin.

– Place a wet compress with cold water on the affected area may relieve the itching or pain.

– Apply a lotion, cream, gel or ointment to relieve itching.

There are products with antipruritic compounds such as calamine, topical antihistamines or even hydrocortisone.

You should use barrier creams and keep your skin well moisturized because dry skin tends to have more itching and inflammation.

– Avoid scratching and popping the blisters as it can open the way to a localized infection, which is a whole new dilemma we do not want to worry about now.

– Choose loose clothing and soft and light fabrics.

And I repeat: The most important thing is that, knowing what caused this dermatitis, avoid that contact in the future. That’s what gloves, aprons and all that other protective material we like not to use because “YOLO”…

I ended with a warning that in more serious cases it may be necessary to go to the doctor to see if it is another pathology that we may have confused or simply need some more potent medication. In this situation, I advise you to go to the doctor if the itching is intensifying, the affected area grows bigger, or if it does not improve within 3 days.

Until then, please wear gloves while you distribute smiles at the hairdresser, and in case of any doubt, ask your pharmacist 😉