Urgent health warning issued to Brits who get skin fades at barbers
A warning has been sent out to men across the country about their next visit to the barbers.
There aren't many better feelings than getting a fresh trim, cleaning up the messy sides you've neglected for weeks and sporting that popular fade.
It's been the 'in' hairstyle for years now, regardless of how long the hair on the top of your head is - but it turns out that getting skin fades in particular could put you at risk of a specific health issue.
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Cases of ringworm have increased drastically across the UK, and it's said to be down to 'cheap, dirty unqualified barbershops'.
It's crucial that foil clippers used for skin fades are 'thoroughly cleaned', says Mike Taylor, who runs a barber training academy in Poole, Dorset.
The process takes about 10 minutes as they need to be disinfected, but Taylor believes that some barbers are skipping this step and has called on the government to put some new rules in place.
As a result, an increasing number of young men are catching ringworm from these uncleaned foil clippers.
What is ringworm?
The NHS describe ringworm as a 'common fungal infection' that isn't 'caused by worms', with medicines from a pharmacy usually being enough to treat it.
Not caused by actual worms, its main symptom is a rash, which may look red or darker than your regular skin, dependant on your tone.
The rash can be dry, itchy, scaly or swollen, and though it can appear anywhere, the type being talking about by Taylor is on the scalp, known scientifically as tinea capitis.
A pharmacist can usually recommend a type of tablet, cream, gel or spray to treat the rash, and they will tell you if you should see a GP.
How can ringworm be passed on?
As it is a type of fungi, it can be passed through close contact, either with an infected person or animal, objects and surfaces, or infected soil - the least common way of ringworm passing.
Why is ringworm a worry?
Speaking to the BBC, Taylor explained: "The high street is depleting, it's dying and then suddenly there's 12 barber shops on the same street and they're all trying to go a little bit cheaper than each other.
"If the prices have to be knocked down then something else has to go and maybe it is all the time spent cleaning the equipment or the time spent getting the proper knowledge. Sometimes the cheapest price isn't always the best price," he highlighted.
He isn't the only one that feels that rules should be changed though, as Gareth Penn, the registrar at the Hair and Barber Council, mentioned the need of a 'mandatory register for those who wish to trade as hairdressers or barbers.'
The Hampshire-based council is a statutory authority for hairdressing in the UK, though it is only a voluntary register, the BBC reports.
Penn further highlighted that the lack of a register opens the industry to 'those that are not trained', or 'those who wish to use our industry as a front for illegal activity'.
A government spokesperson told The Mirror: "We have no plans to regulate the hairdressing sector, however we will always seriously consider evidence when it's provided.
"We work closely with the industry to address skills and training needs, and HMRC is also working to tackle tax fraud in the sector."
LADbible has reached out to the UK Government for further comment.
Joshua Nair