OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PRACTICES, TRAINING STATUS, KNOWLEDGE ON IDENTIFICATION, IMMEDIATE MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS AMONG BEAUTICIANS IN TAMIL NADU: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Beauticians are routinely exposed to a wide range of cosmetic chemicals that increase their risk of occupational allergic reactions. Limited occupational health training and inadequate emergency preparedness may further compromise the timely identification, prevention, and management of these reactions. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 beauticians working in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, between January and December 2025. Participants were selected using multistage sampling followed by consecutive recruitment. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, occupational profile, training status, knowledge regarding allergic reactions, preventive practices, and emergency preparedness. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics and appropriate inferential tests were applied, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: The majority of participants were females (95.7%) aged 26–35 years (40.7%), and 64.0% had formal beautician certification. Although 72.7% correctly identified common allergic symptoms, only 38.0% recognized anaphylaxis as a medical emergency, while 29.3% identified adrenaline as the first-line treatment. First-aid and Basic Life Support training were reported by 42.7% and 19.3% of participants, respectively. More than one-fourth (27.3%) had experienced occupational allergic reactions, with eye irritation (21.0%), contact dermatitis (18.0%), hand eczema (13.7%), and hair dye allergy (12.0%) being the most common manifestations. Preventive practices such as routine allergy history assessment, patch testing, and maintenance of emergency preparedness were suboptimal. Conclusion: Beauticians demonstrated moderate awareness of cosmetic allergies but inadequate preparedness for preventing and managing severe allergic reactions. Strengthening occupational health training, integrating first-aid and Basic Life Support education into cosmetology curricula, promoting standardized preventive protocols, and improving emergency preparedness are essential to enhance occupational safety and protect both beauticians and their clients.