A parent has claimed that her child developed a ringworm infection after getting a skin fade from a barber.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that she went with her 11-year-old son to the hairdressers on 4 September in Sydney ahead of his birthday.
The preteen chose to go for a skin fade style – a zero-grade cut that is blended into a scissor cut on the top – but was allegedly left with the skin infection on the back of his head where the barber used the clippers.
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The child’s mother told Daily Mail Australia that she called the chain hair store to notify them of her son’s itchy, red rash, and was told that she was one of three people who made the same complaint.
The woman said the staff at the barber shop were only slightly remorseful, and they didn't offer her a refund for the haircut which left her child with the rash.
They did admit, however, that the infection was an issue which is commonplace in hair salons due to clippers not being adequately sanitised. In fact, the NHS notes that ‘infected objects’ can allow the infection to spread from person to person.
The child’s infection has started to heal after seeking treatment from the doctor but was ‘embarrassing’ for her son.
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She said: “It was the worst case of ringworm I'd ever seen.
“He was embarrassed beyond belief,” she said of her son. “It was also uncomfortable for him.”
The woman has contacted NSW Health, who told her barbershops were not within their remit, but told her to report the incident to the City of Sydney Council.
She has since been told to report the matter to WorkCover NSW and will be filing a complaint with them soon.
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The woman shared a picture of the aftermath of her son’s haircut to show parents to be cautious of the common infection.
The post, which has racked up over 200 reactions, has received tons of comments from other parents who have had similar experiences at hairdressers.
Despite the name, ringworm is not actually caused by worms, but rather fungus.
According to NHS England, the main symptom of ringworm is a rash, which ‘may look red, silver or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.’
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They say: “The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy. Ringworm can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis) and groin (jock itch).”
If you’re worried about ringworm, visit your pharmacist. If ringworm has not improved after using over-the-counter treatments, visit your GP
Gabriella Ferlita