3-6. AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR SANITATION IN BARBER AND BEAUTY
SHOPS
The following authorities have responsibility for ensuring sanitation in barber and
beauty shops.
a. The post commander is responsible for all aspects of sanitation at the post,
including sanitation in barber and beauty shops.
b. The U.S. Army Medical Department has responsibility for conducting sanitary
inspections and making recommendations to the post commander.
c. The preventive medicine specialist actually conducts the inspections of barber
and beauty shops and should have thorough knowledge of the issues and procedures
involved in the inspection.
d. For concession-type shops, the Post Exchange officer is next to the post
commander in the chain of responsibility for barber and beauty shop sanitation.
3-7.
HEALTH PROBLEMS IN BARBER AND BEAUTY SHOPS
Diseases most closely associated with barber and beauty shops are the
dermatophytoses and staphylococcal skin infections.
a. Dermatophytoses refers to a group of skin diseases caused by fungi
(microscopic molds) which attack the outer layer of the skin and may involve the hair.
The organisms grow best under conditions of warmth and moisture. Cases are more
common in summer months and in tropical and subtropical regions. These diseases
are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or through contact with contaminated clothing
and fomites (towels, barbering tools, etc.). The dermatophytoses involved most often in
barber and beauty shop sanitation are ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) and
ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae).
(1) Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) begins as a small papule (pimple-
like sore) and spreads outward from the edges of the sore. It leaves scaly bald patches.
Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily.
(a) The mode of transmission can be direct or indirect. People contact
the disease from backs of theater seats, barber clippers, toilet articles, or cloth
contaminated with hair from an infected person.
(b) The period of communicability lasts as long as lesions are present.
Viable spores can persist on contaminated materials.
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