What are beauty salons and cosmetics?
Beauty salons are places where people go to improve their appearance in terms of their hair, face, and body as they are associated with beauty.
Cosmetics are typically combinations of chemical substances taken from synthetic or natural sources, such as coconut oil. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees the cosmetics business in the United States, defines cosmetics as “intended to be applied to the human body for purposes like cleaning, beautification, enhancing beauty, or altering the look without changing the body’s composition or its physiological processes”.
Hairdressing, nail care (manicures and pedicures), hair removal by threading and waxing, mud baths, and other services are all offered in salons.
They are, however, also thought to be a serious health risk. The components of cosmetics and the materials used in tools make the salon the perfect place for the growth of bacteria, which helps to spread various diseases. The majority of beauty products contain ingredients like sugar, starch, protein, amino acids, organic acids, acids, alkalis, salts, paraffin, fatty acids, alcohols, esters, moisturizers, colors and dyes, preservatives, antioxidants, fragrances, essential oils.
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Cosmetics satisfy all of the conditions for microbial growth. Furthermore, the majority of these substances are water soluble, which is crucial for the development of microbes.
Hygiene methods followed in beauty salons
Tools and equipment are typically sterilized by chemical and physical means in salons, including boiling water, autoclaving, chemical reagents, quartz bead sterilization, and UV light. The instruments are boiled in water for at least three to five minutes using the hot water sterilizing technique.
Despite being quite quick, this approach has been demonstrated to not be sufficient for eliminating all bacteria. Although the technique is not recommended for sterilizing electrical equipment and takes a while, autoclaving is the most effective way to eliminate all microorganisms.
To prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi on the instruments after cleaning and sterilizing them, as well as the subsequent risk of disease transmission, the tools must be stored correctly in cool, dry areas. Metal and wooden equipment should be maintained in airtight plastic containers, and brushes should be kept in makeup bags.
Why beauty salons are high risk places for diseases
Tools and cosmetics provide a suitable environment for the growth of germs, which in turn help to transmit bacterial, fungal, and viral illnesses. Many elements contribute to this issue.
Firstly, the majority of cosmetic products contain substances that create an environment that is favorable for the growth of microorganisms, such as moisturizers, basic minerals, organic and inorganic compounds, and growth factors.
Secondly, because the manufacture and expiration dates are not marked on cosmetics, it is unknown if the preservatives in the cosmetics lose their effectiveness over time.
Thirdly, cosmetics are regularly shared in beauty salons and are not produced in sanitary settings.
Fourthly, common salon equipment like razors, scissors, clippers, and nail clippers can accidentally pierce the skin, which can cause everything from inflamed skin to hepatitis.
If service providers themselves have major medical conditions, they run the risk of spreading illnesses to their clients.
Microbes found in beauty salons
Following are some microbes that can be found in beauty salons.
- Staphylococcus:
Many healthy people frequently have these kinds of germs on their skin or in their noses. These bacteria frequently do not harm someone or only cause very small skin diseases.
- Bacillus:
An increasing number of infections, including abscesses, bacteremia/septicemia, wound and burn infections, ear infections, endocarditis, meningitis, ophthalmitis, osteomyelitis, and peritonitis, have been linked to Bacillus species.
- Microsporum
The fungus genus Microsporum is responsible for ringworm, tinea corporis, tinea capitis, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin).
- Enterobacter
Numerous nosocomial infections, as well as less often occurring community-acquired illnesses such osteomyelitis, endocarditis, lung infections, soft tissue infections, and urinary tract infections (UTI), are brought on by Enterobacter species.
- Candida Albicans
candida, a type of yeast, if it is out of harmony with good microorganisms in your body, can cause diseases like thrush and vaginal yeast infections.
- Escherichia coli
Numerous common bacterial diseases, such as cholecystitis, bacteremia, cholangitis, urinary tract infections (UTI), traveler’s diarrhea, and other clinical infections such as neonatal meningitis and pneumonia, are frequently brought on by Escherichia coli.
- Aspergillus
A form of mould infection called aspergillosis causes the illness (fungus). Aspergillosis-related infections often affect the respiratory system, but symptoms and severity can vary widely.
- Rhizopus
Mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus can be localized or widespread. The most typical infections are sinusitis and pneumonia, with dissemination being more common in patients with underlying illnesses. In addition to traumatic implantation, spore inhalation can lead to illness.
- Candida parapsilosis
A fungus called Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a substantial contributor to sepsis and wound and tissue infections in immunocompromised individuals.
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Reports are in abundance on the isolation of microbes from cosmetic products in beauty salons, including lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, foundation, blusher, eyeliner, facial creams, and hand and body lotions, in addition to all of the studies looking into pathogenic microorganisms contaminating cosmetic tools. Due to their abundance of beneficial substances, all of these goods are thought to be the perfect setting for microbial growth.
Final thoughts
The general public has to be made more aware of the possibility of disease transmission through the typical equipment and supplies used in beauty salons.
Accordingly, we seek to raise salon standards of care employed in sterilising beauty tools and products and correctly storing them based on the conclusions and recommendations of various studies.
Additionally, we strongly advise against using individual cosmetic kits. If followed, each of these suggestions should dramatically lessen the spread of illness and infection through beauty salons.
The International Organization for Standardization published recommendations for the development of cosmetics that should be considered in terms of awareness, from manufacturing through customer usage to waste disposal.