Hair as a foreign body: Barbers' hair sinus - A common occupational dermatosis? [HAARE ALS FREMDKORPER: DIE ZWISCHENFINGERHAARTASCHE DER FRISEURE - EINE HAUFIGE BERUFSBEDINGTE HAUTERKRANKUNG?]

Abstract

The interdigital pilonidal sinus is a common occupational skin disease that rarely comes to the attention of a dermatologist. The condition is caused by short clipped hairs penetrating the skin and acting as foreign bodies. Interdigital pilonidal sinus has up to date only been described in male barbers (prevalence >10 %); it usually occurs in individuals that have been in the profession for many years and it may be prone to superinfection (abscess, cellulitis). We report two typical observations, one of which was complicated by severe cellulitis. Because of a tendency for complications early diagnosis is important; treatment is simple and preventive measures are efficient (interdigital hygiene). Barbers' hair sinus seems to spare more than half of the working population in the trade (every female). Thus it may be regarded as a paradigm of successful primary prevention of occupational dermatosis.