HIV

HIV AND THE SKIN

Skin conditions are common and are among the early indicators of HIV infection. They range from those commonly seen in people without HIV, such as psoriasis and very dry skin, to the rare cancer Kaposi’s sarcoma, a tell-tale indicator of the virus.

Bacterial, fungal or viral skin infections are also more common and more severe, as the HIV virus suppresses the immune system.

On the scalp you might see seborrheic dermatitis – an infl ammation of the skin around the sebaceous glands, causing red and fl aking skin. W hen the HIV epidemic fi rst raged in the 1980s and early 1990s, the virus was a terrifying unknown and diagnosis was a death sentence.

Since then, things have come a long way. Modern treatments are eff ective and easy to take, and a HIV-positive person on medication can live a normal life. With successful treatment, they cannot pass the virus on.

Despite this, stigma remains a problem, with persistent myths and misunderstandings about how HIV can be passed on. Th ose living with the virus face being denied treatments or turned away if they share their status.

So, what do professionals in the hair, beauty and barbering sectors need to know?

THE STIGMA

With World AIDS Day coming up on 1 December, how have modern treatments transformed what it means to live with HIV, and what do hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists need to know about the virus?

WORDS JULIETTE ASTRUP

HAIRDRESSING AND BEAUTY ARE AMONG THE WORK LISTED BY THE HSE WHERE THERE MAY BE CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR BODILY FLUIDS

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? HEALTH AND SAFETY

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a legal duty to protect the health of employees and anyone else, for example the public, who may be affected by their work or present on their premises at any time.

You must also give employees adequate information, instruction and training on any risks to their health that they may face at work.

HIV AND EMPLOYMENT

‘Someone with HIV is automatically considered to have a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010,’ says Alexandra Farmer, head of partnerships legal team and solicitor at Ellis Whittam.

‘It is unlawful for an employer to treat a job applicant or employee less favourably than others because of a disability, or act in a way that disadvantages them. The law also protects job applicants and employees from harassment.

Alexandra adds: ‘In this sector, there is no requirement for a job applicant or employee to disclose if they have HIV infection. It will be the individual’s choice.

‘Employers need to be careful about asking medical questions, especially pre-employment. Under section 60 of the Equality Act 2010, employers are prohibited from asking an applicant about their health, save for in limited circumstances.’ The current picture

New HIV diagnoses have been dropping since 2005, but there are still just over 105,000 people living with HIV in the UK, according to the most recent estimate (2019). Of these, around 6600 are undiagnosed – so are unaware they are HIV positive.

Keeping safe

Blood-borne viruses such as HIV are mainly transmitted sexually or via direct exposure to infected blood. Th at can happen in the workplace through accidental contamination by a sharp instrument such as a needle, through open wounds, skin abrasions or skin damaged due to a condition such as eczema, or through splashes to the eyes, nose or mouth.

Hairdressing and beauty are on the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) list of work where there may be contact with blood or bodily fl uids. It is something to consider in the event of nicks and cuts, when working with injectables or treatments such as dermarolling, and when performing waxing and nail services.

In the case of the latter, the Hair And Beauty Industry Authority (Habia) advises taking precautions such as covering cuts and abrasions, especially on the hands, with a waterproof dressing, and never using equipment on more than one client unless it’s been sterilised.

Th e guidance is clear that HIV is diffi cult to pass from person to person, and that the virus cannot withstand the recommended disinfectants.

Acting with understanding

Th ere is no risk of getting HIV through sharing utensils or other day-to-day contact, and people living with the virus who are on eff ective treatment can’t pass it on – even through unprotected sex. However, misapprehensions persist.

Taku Mukiwa, head of health programmes at the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, says salons and barbershops are important spaces for tackling HIV stigma. Th e charity targets them for that reason, especially those providing services to communities

WHERE TO LEARN MORE

The HSE's Blood-borne viruses in the workplace – Guidance for employers and employees: bit.ly/HSE-BBVs Fact and fi gures about HIV: bit.ly/HIV-statistics Terence Higgins Trust: tht.org.uk The HIV test fi nder: test.tht.org.uk National Aids Trust: nat.org.uk Habia code of practice for nail services:

bit.ly/code-of-practice-nails

that are disproportionately aff ected by HIV, explains Taku.

While many salons and shops agree to display information posters, others are more proactive, inviting the charity to educate their staff and clients, distributing condoms, or even providing HIV home-testing kits.

Taku adds: ‘Barbershops and salons are a space for information sharing and chatting about social issues, and if conversations about HIV and sexual health come up, it is good if staff are aware of what the realities are, so they can chip in with appropriate information and point people towards where they can fi nd out more.

‘If they know the facts, they can help fi ght the stigma.’

IF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HIV COME UP, IT IS GOOD IF STAFF ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE REALITIES ARE

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

Former salon manager and hairdressing educator Marie Batcock and her husband Allan, who is living with HIV, share their experiences.

Allan says: ‘I know from forums and groups that a lot of people are turned away by beauty therapists and others – even dentists. Being rejected for treatment is soul-destroying; it makes you feel like a leper and puts your mental health recovery back a long way.

‘If salons want to support people living with HIV, having a red ribbon in the shop is a discreet way to show that it is a safe space to talk.’

Marie adds: ‘If someone does tell you their status, you don’t need to turn them away or put gloves on and cover up – you don’t need to treat them any diff erently.

‘Hairdressers can make a diff erence by knowing products to recommend that can help some of the side eff ects of treatment, such as dry skin or thinning hair. HIV can have a massive impact on someone’s mental health, and going to a salon or beauty therapist is an opportunity to help them look and feel better.’