HAIRDRESSERs are being encouraged to wear gloves at work as part of a campaign to tackle skin damage.

A national trial commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - which included 20 salons in Chester and surrounding areas - found hairdressers supported the idea of wearing non-latex gloves to reduce their chances of getting dermatitis and other uncomfortable skin conditions.

Owing to the amount of contact that hairdressers have with chemicals in hair products and water, they are 17 times more likely to suffer from work-related skin damage, including dermatitis, than any other group of workers. This means that 70% of hairdressers may suffer from skin damage at some point during their career.

Joe Roberts, from Smile hairdressers on Watergate Row South in Chester, was among those taking part in the trial.

He said: "I can't imagine not providing gloves for my staff, and I hope other hairdressers in Cheshire will also be persuaded to wear them.”