The

book can be used as a reference work both for medical advice beyond occupational dermatoses and for an adequate professional dialogue with colleagues in the field of dermatology.”
“Introduction Hairdressers often complain of work-related airway symptoms. They are exposed to several irritating and sensitizing agents, but they often relate their symptoms to bleaching powder (Albin et al. 2002; Brisman et al. 2003). Persulphates found in bleaching powder have often been blamed because they are irritating and sensitizing agents causing both rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms. Specific challenge to persulphate has been suggested as an useful tool in diagnosis of occupational asthma in hairdressers (Muñoz et al. 2004). However, specific IgE antibodies against persulphates are seldom found (Parra et al. 1992) and another immunologic mechanism not yet elucidated has been suggested (Moscato see more et al. 2005; Muñoz et al. 2004). Furthermore, the clinical picture is quite complex as hairdressers reacting to bleaching powder very often complain of symptoms associated with exposure to other hairdressers chemicals. In a previous study, we found that hairdressers with

nasal symptoms from bleaching powder reacted to a nasal challenge with potassium persulphate in the same way as atopics without earlier exposure to bleaching powder (Kronholm U0126 nmr Diab et al. 2009). Phosphoprotein phosphatase This reaction was associated with a Th1 cell activation, which may be a part of the process of hyper reactivity from low irritant exposure (Banauch et al. 2005; Van Loveren et al. 1996). In an earlier study (Kronholm Diab 2002), hairdressers claimed that their work-related symptoms increased during periods of exposure and also that they became more sensitive to other stimuli as well, indicating an increasing reactivity in the nasal mucosa. They felt that the reactivity decreased considerably during time away from work. For this reason, frequent periods without

exposure were necessary for the hairdressers to be able to continue work. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been introduced late in occupational medical research compared to care health research in general. HRQoL and working life are linked and must be of concern to occupational health researchers (Blanc 2004). Data indicate that allergic rhinitis may have an important impact on productivity because of symptoms as tiredness, poor concentration and headache (Blanc et al. 2001). The mechanisms of hairdressers’ nasal symptoms and the consequences for their HRQoL are not clear. This is problematic when hairdressers ask for medical advice concerning continued work as a hairdresser. To clarify this issue, further research about the symptom mechanism and the influence of the symptoms on HRQoL during exposure periods is of great need.