Background: Nickel is one of the most common contact allergens. Despite EU regulations concerning the maximum permissible release of nickel from metal objects, nickel release at inappropriately high levels from metal objects has been detected in various studies.Objectives: To screen current nickel release from metal tools in the German hairdressing trade.Methods: Two hundred and twenty-nine metal tools from the German hairdressing trade were tested with the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test for nickel release. Additionally, an employee survey was conducted to collect data about the metal tools. Results:The DMG test showed that 21 of 229 metal tools (9.2%) released nickel. Nickel release was detected in 8 of 45 hair clips (17.8%), 2 of 27 tail combs (7.4%), and 11 of 17 tweezers (64.7%).Conclusion: It must be assumed that hairdressers in Germany have prolonged skin contact with nickel-releasing metal tools. This should prompt further testing for nickel release from metal tools, and the development of regulations to eliminate nickel-releasing metal tools in the (German) hairdressing trade. K E Y W O R D S dimethylglyoxime test, Germany, hairdresser, metal tools, nickel 1 | INTRODUCTION Hairdressers have one of the highest risks of developing occupational dermatoses. 1 The intense occupational exposure in terms of a combination of frequent wet work and skin contact with detergents and chemicals may lead to barrier impairment, and thus-among other factors, for example, a proinflammatory milieu-to a higher risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis. 2,3 Nickel is, according to the German Contact Dermatitis Group and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, among the most frequent contact allergens, with a sensitization prevalence of 15.3%. 4 The risk of developing occupational allergic contact dermatitis in the hairdressing trade is 10.58%. 5 Currently, the REACH Regulation (Entry 27 of Annex XVII to REACH) regulates the allowed maximum quantity of nickel released from metal objects in the EU. 6 According to the REACH Regulation,nickel release from products with direct and prolonged skin contact must not be >0.5 μg/cm 2 /week. 6 The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) defines prolonged skin contact as contact with the skin with "nickel of potentially more than 10 minutes on three or more occasions within two weeks, or 30 minutes on one or more occasions within two weeks". 7 As the REACH Regulation is general, occupational exposure to nickel-containing metal objects is included in it. Moreover, the occupational use of tools in the hairdressing trade can be regarded as prolonged skin contact according to the definition of the ECHA.Although the prevalence of nickel allergy decreased between 1994 and 2012, nickel allergy is still an established health problem in the EU. [8][9][10][11] In addition to individual consequences, occupational nickel contact allergy may pose an economic problem, as it may lead to a change of occupation, precarious work, or unemployment. 12The nickel release from metal objects in the EU ...

Automated Cleansing Device may be useful for standardized evaluation of the cleansing effectiveness and parallel assessment of the corresponding irritancy potential of industrial skin cleansers. This will allow objectifying efficacy and safety of industrial skin cleansers, thus enabling market transparency and facilitating rational choice of products.

The spectrum of standardized test dirts developed represents well the dirts encountered at various workplaces. The test dirts may be useful in the development and in vivo efficacy testing of occupational skin cleansers.

Intra- and inter-device specific test results of an in vivo model of skin cleansing using the automated cleansing device (ACiD) were reproducible. The long-term aim is a standardized classification of occupational skin cleansing products comparing their skin cleansing effectiveness in relation to their skin irritancy. This might then provide the basis for a rational specific product selection by consumers and may be used as a tool for future product development by manufacturers.

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