COPD and hairdressing

[Deleted]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Karen and I am still fairly new to this. I am trying to find an area where I can ask a questions.... but haven't found it yet. I just recently found out I have COPD with Emyphsema. I am a licensed Hairdresser. I have heard two different thoughts on whether the chemicals from Perms and coulours can affect my COPD with Emphysema? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Also if someone can direct me to the area for questions would also be appreciated. Thank you

[sandy07]

Karen. Welcome to the forum.

You are in the right place for your question. I don't think I can answer your question tho.

The only thing I can think of would be the smells. As your condition progresses it may really bother you. Does it bother you at all now?

Maybe someone will come along with more answers for you. I'll ask around in the meantime.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Hi Kurby... Nice to Meet You!

Questions can go in any portal/category area for which they pertain. I.E.; anything to do with COPD, goes in the COPD portal like here. BUT; don't worry about whether you've posted in the wrong place! That's why we have mods who get paid the big bucks ;D
to move things around..

I think the biggest concern might be if it's currently irritating to you, plus the potential of triggering an exacerbation. (flare up; worsening of symptoms) but it would appear that also over time, becasue of some of those chemicals, it could contribute to COPD and a decline in your lung function.

I did a very quick search.... (I'm a tad short on time) but a much better one would be nice if someone would and post it here and specifically as it relates to COPD and hair salons

What I've found (again just quickly) seems to centre around Asthma..... but.... you have to remember that damage and poor air quality to the lungs is still gonna be damage and poor air quality for the lungs whether it's asthma or COPD.

Here's a couple of links....

From WebMD 10 Risky Jobs for Your Lungs
These jobs may have lung risks for some workers.
www.webmd.com/lung/features/risky-jobs-for-your-lungs

and from the Long Association
Occupational fields associated with a higher risk of developing asthma include: Hair Nail & Beauty Salons Rate right up there!
www.on.lung.ca/work-related-asthma


Here's a booklet
www.on.lung.ca/document.doc?id=1128

And... I just found a brief abstract re: COPD, asthma and salons...
www.scopemed.org/?mno=29715

That;s the best I can do at the moment Kurby...

[Deleted]

Thank you Blossom.... I really appreciate the time you spend researching this inform. I have read all of the links, and found the information very interesting.
Thanks again
Kurby

[Deleted]

Hi Sandy,

Thank you for the welcome, so far I have found this forum to be interesting and informative. I appreciate your input. I have already noticed symptoms of the chemicals bothering me. Just not sure if I am going to be able to continue in this profession.

[Deleted]

Kurby, I am not sure where you are living. However, check with your provincial/state Workers Compensation Board / Workplace safety dept etc and see if there is a recognized hazard in hair styling that might deal with your condition.

Perhaps talk with them about the affect of the solutions on your conditions and find out whether there is any possibility of a claim, a recognized disability, rehab assistance or retraining that might work out for you to make a living. As ti is work related they may provide some help

[Deleted]

Thanks for the info. Gerald. I live in London, Ontario. The problem is I am self-employed, but I will check into the Worker Compensation Board.

[David]

Hi kurby, nice to meet you. I would be careful not to be around stuff that is derived from crude oil. I worked in the oilfield in 1981 to 1984 and every time a well flowed we had to cap it off. We got totally drenched in crude oil. I would get pneumonia and I have to go in the hospital for 7 days This happened 3 times in 3 years and the 3rd X-ray showed the beginning of emphysema. I quit the oilfield and never again had he problem. I went to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport to see if there was something they could do to help me. The Doctor said he could find out the answer of what I was allergic to in the crude oil but he would get fired and LSU would be fined for running the test because the government was protecting the Industries.
So I would be real careful on what I put on my skin over repeated times if it is something that was made from crude oil.

I know I can't be around perfumes and cologne. The smell is to much for me. To this day I have never found out what caused the repeated pneumonia.

This year marks 30 years since I was diagnosed with emphysema. I went on disability in 2003. I am on oxygen at night and used a nebulizer 4 or 5 times a day. Overall my heath is good and my heart is in good shape and has not enlarged any. Pulmonary Doctor says I need a lung transplant. Not sure I care for that.
My Primary Doctor and I are chasing down this drug that has potential to Stop progression and reverse damage some damage in Emphysema. There is an article in the Boston University Medical Center and has been published in BioMed Centra's open access journal Genome Medicine.

The drug is called Gly-His-Lys (GHK). When applied to lung cells from patients with emphysema, normal activity in altered cells was restored and damaged aspects of cellular function was repaired. It sounds really promising but I talked to the guy who is studying this ans he told me the FDA is coming down hard on him and is trying to shut his mouth and put him out of business. He assured me he was not giving up. His name is Loren Pickart. He is not a medical doctor. He is a Biochemist and scientist for cosmetic companies.

www.bumc.bu.edu/busm

www.disabled-world.com/health/respiratory/emphysema.php

[Lynac]

My 89 year old Dad has COPD and emphysema .
He went to the hairdressers on Thursday .
A lady in there was having a perm.
My Dad had the worse attack he had ever had.
He couldn't even get the ventolin in .
Eventually I did get him to try to relax and he was able to use the inhaler , which helped.
Straight away he said , it was the perm solution.

[joany]

I so hope your father is okay now.  Sounds like that was quite a scare!  Those of us with COPD/emphysema never know for sure how dangerous the "air" can be..

[budgie]

My wife has COPD and she was a hairdresser most of her working life. She is absolutely convinced, as I am, that she contracted the disease during her hairdressing years and breathing in air that was constantly being infused with hair laquer and perm lotion. An investigation needs to be started in the hairdressing industry (I'm too old to take  up the flag), or at the very least,  youngsters going into the industry need to be warned about the possible consequences of working in a hairdressing salon.

[gerald]

Here is some stuff written up by Work Safe BC

www.worksafebc.com/-/media/46A4CDCA545B4858A2E6FE1DCB935CFC.ashx

They say the the materials can cause severe Asthma.

If it can cause Asthma I suspect it will cause COPD