Pet Grooming and Hair Splinters
Nobody wants a bad hair day, certainly not one that could land you in the waiting room of your GP, but unfortunately that can be the result when hair splinters are not taken seriously! It’s hard to believe that a single hair can cause so much damage but there really are great risks associated with hair splinters.
So first thing first, what exactly is a hair splinter?
A hair splinter is an occupational hazard of dog groomers and hairdressers, and is when a freshly cut hair embeds itself into the skin. A hair splinter can occur on any part of the body but is most common in areas with soft skin such as hands, feet and the inner side of the elbow. They’re also more likely to happen during the clipping and scissoring stages of grooming as the hair is left with sharper edges.
What are the risks of a hair splinter?
Not only are hair splinters painful (you will normally feel them before you see them), but they can result in infection which can then trigger an immune response from the body. The two most common responses are Interdigital Pilonidal Sinus and Foreign Body Granulomas.
Interdigital Pilonidal Sinus, often referred to as barber or hairdresser’s disease, occurs when the hair penetrates a hairless area, particularly the skin between the fingers (interdigital). The hair then causes a small hole or passage called a Pilonidal Sinus which can later progress to a cyst and greater infection.
Foreign Body Granuloma occurs when the body identifies the hair as a foreign object that it is unable to get rid of, so works to isolate it by “walling-it-off" using a small cluster of white blood cells, this then forms an internal lump known as a granuloma.
Both Interdigital Pilonidal Sinus’ and Foreign Body Granulomas can be treated with antibiotics with the more severe cases requiring surgical removal of the hair splinter.
Hopefully all those doctor-y terms haven't scared you off yet, because we do have some tips and tricks for both prevention and removal!
Prevention:
Always wear close-toed shoes whilst grooming (and no... Crocs don’t count!), you would be surprised how many serious cases of splinters have been in the feet!
Wear smocks or coverups with ¾ or full-length sleeves, this will protect the inner elbows. You can check out some of our other PPE recommendations here: www.igroomhub.com.au/ppe
Wash your hands regularly between all stages of grooming with a focus on scrubbing between the fingers. We’ve got an entire section on handwashing available in our WHS Induction for Dog Groomers course: www.courses.igroomhub.com.au/p/whs-induction-for-dog-groomers
Rubbing baby powder or corn starch on high-risk areas so hair slips off the skin.
“Invisible Gloves” (google it) is a protective hand cream that works as a shield, some brands also have sanitizing properties and can last up to 5 hours. Similarly, regular medical gloves can work too!
Removal
Exfoliating your skin after grooming with a soap scrub can dislodge hair from the outer layer of the skin. Try our Polish scrub available in the Groomers Store: www.igroomhub.com.au/shop/p/polish
Using a strong tape in a similar way to a waxing strip. Press the sticky side of the tape on the exposed end of the hair and pull it away.
Use tweezers to remove as you would a regular splinter. Removal is easiest when skin is soft. Soak the skin in warm water with Epsom salts for 15-30 minutes beforehand. Our Soak bath salts have plenty of Epsom salts, and also Lavender to calm the freak-out: www.igroomhub.com.au/shop/p/soak
It’s essential that you remove the hair in the same angle that the hair entered the skin, a magnifying glass can help you determine the direction. Also make sure not to apply pressure or squeeze the skin surrounding the hair splinter as this can further embed the hair into the skin or in cases of brittle hair, could break it apart.
Last but definitely not least, always seek medical advice from a health care professional if you suspect a possible infection, have a deeply embedded case, or are concerned about the status of your hair splinter!
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