Assembling the salon: Learning from alternative forms of body work in dementia care

This article explores the labour and experiences of a hitherto entirely overlooked section of the dementia care workforce: care-based hairdressers. Reporting on findings from the ESRC-funded 'Hair and Care' project, the analysis and discussion focus upon the 'doing of hair' in the context of dementia care. The authors challenge existing assumptions and approaches to the management of appearance in dementia care, arguing for greater recognition of the subjective and culturally meaningful qualities of a visit to the salon. The article draws upon a wider debate on body work as a framework for the discussion, and considers the employment and working conditions of this largely hidden group of workers in the care system. The article offers an account of the praxis of care-based hairdressing, with particular attention paid to narrative, intercorporeal and place-making practices in the salon, showing how a particular approach to the body shapes the labour, relationships and activities that unfold within it. The authors argue that as an alternative form of body work much can be learned from hairdressing that can inform and enhance the provision of dementia care.

Hair and Aging

Hair is the ultimate personal beauty tool of self-expression. It is more malleable than skin and it is more personal than clothing; however, hair does not remain constant with age. Hair is arguably in peak condition at about 30 years of age. With time, there is a gradual change in many aspects of hair: hair diameter is reduced, hair density is decreased, androgenic alopecia may develop, and pigmentation may be diminished, producing a significant psychological impact. These age-related changes can be exacerbated by blast drying, heat straightening, perming, and coloring. In this review, the changes in hair fiber and array (collection of fiber) properties that occur during aging and the impact on styling and potential interventions that consumers undergo to circumvent these issues are discussed.

Indoor tanning among high school students in the United States, 2009 and 2011

IMPORTANCE

Indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, and is particularly dangerous for younger and more frequent indoor tanners.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of indoor tanning and frequent indoor tanning (≥10 times during the 12 months before each survey) and their association with health-related behaviors.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A cross-sectional study examined data from the 2009 and 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, which used nationally representative samples of US high school students representing approximately 15.5 million students each survey year. The study included 25,861 students who answered the indoor tanning question.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The prevalence of indoor tanning and frequent indoor tanning were examined as well as their association with demographic characteristics and health-related behaviors using multivariable logistic regression modeling.

RESULTS

The prevalence of indoor tanning was greater among female, older, and non-Hispanic white students. Indoor tanning was highest among female students aged 18 years or older, with 31.5% engaging in indoor tanning in 2011, and among non-Hispanic white female students, with 29.3% engaging in indoor tanning in 2011. Among female students, the adjusted prevalence of indoor tanning decreased from 26.4% in 2009 to 20.7% in 2011. Among female and male students, indoor tanning was associated with other risk-taking behaviors, such as binge drinking (P < .001 and P = .006, respectively), unhealthy weight control practices (P < .001, for both), and having sexual intercourse (P < .001, for both). Additionally, indoor tanning among female students was associated with using illegal drugs (P < .001) and having sexual intercourse with 4 or more persons (P = .03); use among male students was associated with taking steroids without a physician's prescription (P < .001), smoking cigarettes daily (P = .03), and attempting suicide (P = .006). More than half of respondents engaging in indoor tanning reported frequent use of the devices.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Indoor tanning is common among high school students. Public health efforts are needed to change social norms regarding tanned skin and to increase awareness, knowledge, and behaviors related to indoor tanning. The clustering of risky behaviors suggests a need for coordinated, multifaceted approaches, including primary care physician counseling, to address such behaviors among adolescents.

Prevalence and correlates of indoor tanning among US adults

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the prevalence of indoor tanning among the US general adult population.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to: (1) describe the prevalence of indoor tanning throughout adulthood; (2) identify demographic and psychosocial correlates of indoor tanning; and (3) determine whether these correlates vary by age group.

METHODS

This study used data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, an annual health survey of the US adult population.

RESULTS

Indoor tanning rates were higher among individuals who were young, white, and female. Rates of indoor tanning in the last year varied from 20.4% for those aged 18 to 29 years to 7.8% for those aged 65 years and older. A variety of demographic, health, and behavioral health risk factors correlated with indoor tanning.

LIMITATIONS

The study design was cross-sectional and all data were self-reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Health care providers should address indoor tanning as a health risk factor across the lifespan.

Relaxing/straightening of Afro-ethnic hair: historical overview

Afro-ethnic hair, when compared with naturally straight hair, presents some important variations such as differences in diameter in many points of the thread, ellipsoidal threads, and low trend of hydrating the scalp thus turning the hair drier, because the natural sebum distribution is irregular along the thread. This kind of hair may be straightened through both chemical and thermal methods. Straightening is a chemical process by which excessively curly hair is straightened in an irreversible way. Generally, the products used are formulated in a cosmetic emulsion with high pH. In this review, we present the historical development of hair straightening or relaxing through the evolution of the product categories.

The search for new fragrance ingredients for functional perfumery

Functional perfumery is an integral part of the fragrance business. It demands that the ingredients chosen for compounding withstand the aggressive nature of some of the bases used for soaps, detergents, softeners, bleach, and personal-care products. The synthetic efforts in this area reported in this short personal account, presented in a talk at the RSC/SCI conference Flavours & Fragrances 2004 (Manchester), have resulted in the discovery of the two new proprietary molecules Fleuranil (5/6) and Khusinil (7), which fulfill the criteria of functional perfumery. The structure-odor relationships of several analogs of Fleuranil and Khusinil prepared in the course of these investigations are also presented.

The Ideal of Facial Beauty: A Review

In this review article we examine the question as to which parameters of facial attraction are amenable to measurement and which tools are available to perform these measurements. The evaluation of facial images, artistic standards, cephalometry, and anthropometry are discussed. Furthermore, we consider how the attractiveness of a face is influenced by symmetry, averageness and distinguishing features such as dental esthetics or gender specific characteristics. There is a shared concept of what constitutes an "ideal" face. Anthropometric methods are preferable to cephalometric methods in determining the "ideal" face's dimensions, since anthropometric methods are valid, three-dimensional, non-invasive, suitable for a great variety of purposes, and easy to implement. Symmetry and averageness play important roles in determining the attractiveness of a face; although distinguishing features make it extraordinarily beautiful. Such features make a female face appear both child like and mature as well as expressive. Women's preferences as to what constitutes a particularly attractive male face are controversial, since female observers are greatly influenced by their menstrual cycles or their environment when responding to male faces. Finally, allowance has to be made for the fact that the ideal of beauty is subject to certain fluctuations in fashion.

[Cosmetologists preparation in the field of health promotion and health education]

Cosmetology is a very important and advantageous branch, because it indulges essential health and cultural human necessities. The specialization focuses on those aspects of prevention that can extend youth and efficiency which is helpful for health retaining. The thesis shows the ways of preparation of the new skeleton crew for health promotion and education reflecting presented teaching program for cosmetologists on bachelor level. As it results from an analysis of particular subject and didactic items presented during the studies, the cosmetologist can be a leader of health promoters in surrounding because of acquiring all necessary references in the matter.

Reconnaissance study of sunbed use by primary school children in Lanarkshire

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to swiftly gain insight into anecdotal evidence that primary school children in local schools were using sunbeds.

METHODS

A seven-question questionnaire was conducted by school nurses in 23 primary schools in the Wishaw Local Health Care Co-operative catchment area. Children in primary classes 4 (aged 8-9) and 6/7 (aged 10-11) took part in the classroom surveys. Positive responses were counted by a show of hands by the children.

RESULTS

A total of 1405 children took part in the survey. Of these, 48 per cent expressed a desire to use a sunbed and 7 per cent (96 children) had actually used a sunbed in the last 6 months. Of the 96 who professed to using a sunbed, 16 used one regularly, 61 gained access to a sunbed in someone's house, and 21 had used a sunbed in a shop or salon. Twenty-nine (30 per cent) admitted that they had suffered sore skin or sore eyes after sunbed use.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary survey suggests that a significant number of primary school children may be using tanning devices either in the home or on commercial premises. More rigorous research is urgently required to test these findings. The precautionary principle suggests that public action is justified on present evidence.

Beauty is as beauty does: body image and self-esteem of pageant contestants

Self-esteem, dieting, and body image of 131 female beauty pageant contestants (mean age 26.0 years) from 43 states were examined by an anonymous survey. Most (89.6%) reported being a pageant finalist or winner and 55.2% had competed at the nationa/international level Over one-fourth (26%) of the women had been told or perceived they had an eating disorder which reportedly began at 16.25 years. Almost half (48.5%) reported wanting to be thinner and 57% were trying to lose weight. Higher self-esteem scores were significantly associated with increased level of competition (i.e.: from local to international pageants), but not with the number of times the women were pageant finalists or winners. Future study is warranted to determine how pageant participation influences self-esteem, body image, and the development of eating disorders.

Use of indoor tanning sunlamps by US youth, ages 11-18 years, and by their parent or guardian caregivers: prevalence and correlates

BACKGROUND

Tanning parlors have become common in the United States. Artificial ultraviolet radiation exposure from this source may be harmful and may increase the risk of melanoma, particularly when done for recreational purposes during childhood and early adult years. Population-based data on the prevalence and correlates of this activity is important in the evaluation of potential public health interventions for skin cancer prevention.

STUDY DESIGN

In 1998, we conducted a population-based telephone survey of youth and their primary caregiver. The sample (N = 1192) was weighted to represent the population of US youth living in households with a primary caregiver. Interviewers used a standardized questionnaire to document the characteristics of the participant and their practices, attitudes, and experiences regarding ultraviolet exposures. METHOD OF ANALYSIS: Weighted prevalence and adjusted prevalence odds ratios (aPOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Independent factors were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Ten percent of youth and 8% of their primary caregivers used indoor tanning sunlamps in the previous year. Thirty percent of the youth whose caregivers used indoor tanning sunlamps did so themselves as well. Independent predictors associated with indoor tanning sunlamp use were as follows: age 17 to 18 years (aPOR = 11.1; 95% CI: 5.0, 25.0); female (aPOR = 8.3; 95% CI: 3.6, 19.2); having a parent who used indoor tanning sunlamps in the previous year (aPOR = 8.7; 95% CI: 4.0, 18.9); nonuser of Sun Protection Factor 15 sunscreen at the beach or pool (aPOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.0, 3.4); and low sun sensitivity (aPOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0, 5.3).

CONCLUSION

A substantial minority of American youth engages in indoor tanning. However, it is particularly prevalent among older youth, girls, and youth whose parents themselves use indoor tanning sunlamps. The knowledge of these trends may help focus public health initiatives.

Use of sunscreen, sunburning rates, and tanning bed use among more than 10 000 US children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES

To describe the association of sunscreen use, sunburning, and tanning bed use by age, sex, residence, and psychosocial variables associated with tan-seeking behaviors, and to compare these findings with sun protection recommendations from federal agencies and cancer organizations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study, from all 50 states, of 10 079 boys and girls 12 to 18 years of age in 1999. Data were collected from self-report questionnaires with the children of the participants from the Nurses Health Study (Growing Up Today Study).

RESULTS

The prevalence of sunscreen use was 34.4% with girls more likely to use sunscreen than boys (40.0 vs 26.4, odds ratio: 1.86; 95% confidence interval: 1.70-2.03). Eighty-three percent of respondents had at least 1 sunburn during the previous summer, and 36% had 3 or more sunburns. Nearly 10% of respondents used a tanning bed during the previous year. Girls were far more likely than boys to report tanning bed use (14.4 vs 2.4), and older girls (ages 15-18) were far more likely than younger girls (ages 12-14) to report tanning bed use (24.6% vs 4.7). Tanning bed use increased from 7% among 14-year-old girls to 16% by age 15, and more than doubled again by age 17 (35%; N = 244). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that attitudes associated with tanning, such as the preference for tanned skin, having many friends who were tanned, and belief in the worth of burning to get a tan, were generally associated with sporadic sunscreen use, more frequent sunburns, and increased use of tanning beds.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that many children are at subsequent risk of skin cancer because of suboptimal sunscreen use, high rates of sunburning, and tanning bed use. Recommendations in the United States for improved sun protection and avoidance of tanning beds and sunburning, which began in the early 1990s, have been primarily unheeded. Nationally coordinated campaigns with strong policy components must be developed and sustained to prevent skin cancer in a new generation of children and adolescents.

Aesthetic restoration of the severely disfigured face in burn victims: a comprehensive strategy

Although highly specialized burn centers have significantly reduced mortality rates following extensive total body surface area burns, survivors are often left with grotesque facial disfigurement. The strategy of modern facial restoration emphasizes enhancement of aesthetic appearance as significantly as mitigation of functional impairment. Criteria for success are (1) an undistracted "normal" look at conversational distance, (2) facial balance and symmetry, (3) distinct aesthetic units fused by inconspicuous scars, (4) "doughy" skin texture appropriate for corrective makeup, and (5) dynamic facial expression. Since 1985, the author has successfully restored 17 severely disfigured burned faces by replacement of entire aesthetic units with microvascular "prepatterned" composite flaps blended into the facial canvas by cosmetic camouflage techniques. The series includes hemiface (2), neck/jaw (5), chin/lower lip (3), cheek/malar (5), peri-orbital (2), nose (3), upper lip (4), and ear reconstructions (4). Flaps represented are free preauricular (1), radial forearm (6), ulnar forearm (1), free scapular (6), ilio-osteocutaneous (2), temporoparietal (8), vascularized forehead island (3), supraclavicular (1), and SMAS (1). Important to outcome is extensive initial intraoperative "sculpting" to simulate normal planes and contours. Seams are placed at junctions of facial components. Three-dimensional imaging is used to assess architectural asymmetries, and bone grafts are aided by computer-generated acrylic models. Adjunctive procedures include tensor fasciae latae slings, intraoperative tissue expansion, suction-assisted lipectomy, and scar management. After restoration of facial form and texture, flesh color make-up and/or tattooing of beard, lips, scars, eyebrows, etc., aid to hide scars and pigment the skin to harmonize with the rest of the face. In all cases, facial integrity has been aesthetically restored and, in most instances, with makeup, is near normal in social settings at conversational distances. Facial animation is retained and color matches are excellent. One flap was lost early in the series.