Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut

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dc.contributor.authorKhumalo, Nonhlanhla P
dc.contributor.authorGantsho, Nomphelo
dc.contributor.authorGumedze, Freedom
dc.contributor.authorMthebe, Thami
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:18:04Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:18:04Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractThe clean-shave haircut known locally as the chiskop is rare among females but popular with black South African men, who are also predisposed to folliculitis keloidalis nuchae (FKN) (keloids on the back of the head). During a previous study, participants described an unexpected symptom of haircut-associated bleeding. As this is not a widely recognised entity, we conducted the present study at an HIV clinic servicing the same population, with the objective of comparing the prevalences of haircut-associated bleeding and FKN in 390 HIV-positive subjects with published data for Langa (Western Cape, South Africa). The results for HIV-positive participants were similar to the population data, but in both groups the prevalence of haircut-associated bleeding (24.5% v. 32%; p =0.17) was much higher than that of FKN (10.2% v. 10.5%), suggesting that the hairstyle increases the risk of bleeding even in people with healthy scalps without folliculitis. This study does not (and was not intended to) prove a higher HIV prevalence in chiskop wearers or in FKN sufferers, but it confirms a history of haircut-associated bleeding in at least a quarter of our male study participants. The risk of transmission of blood-borne infection via haircuts is likely to be low, but requires formal quantification. Public education on adequate sterilisation of barber equipment between haircuts and promotion of individual hair-clipper ownership for chiskop clients should not be delayed. Depilatory creams formulated for African hair offer a non-mechanical means of achieving clean-shave hairstyles.
dc.identifier.apacitationKhumalo, N. P., Gantsho, N., Gumedze, F., & Mthebe, T. (2013). Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut. <i>South African Medical Journal</i>, 103(7), 489 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKhumalo, Nonhlanhla P, Nomphelo Gantsho, Freedom Gumedze, and Thami Mthebe "Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut." <i>South African Medical Journal</i> 103, 7. (2013): 489 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKhumalo, N.P., Gantsho, N., Gumedze, F. & Mthebe, T. 2013. Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut. <i>South African Medical Journal.</i> 103(7):489 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2469
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Khumalo, Nonhlanhla P AU - Gantsho, Nomphelo AU - Gumedze, Freedom AU - Mthebe, Thami AB - The clean-shave haircut known locally as the chiskop is rare among females but popular with black South African men, who are also predisposed to folliculitis keloidalis nuchae (FKN) (keloids on the back of the head). During a previous study, participants described an unexpected symptom of haircut-associated bleeding. As this is not a widely recognised entity, we conducted the present study at an HIV clinic servicing the same population, with the objective of comparing the prevalences of haircut-associated bleeding and FKN in 390 HIV-positive subjects with published data for Langa (Western Cape, South Africa). The results for HIV-positive participants were similar to the population data, but in both groups the prevalence of haircut-associated bleeding (24.5% v. 32%; p =0.17) was much higher than that of FKN (10.2% v. 10.5%), suggesting that the hairstyle increases the risk of bleeding even in people with healthy scalps without folliculitis. This study does not (and was not intended to) prove a higher HIV prevalence in chiskop wearers or in FKN sufferers, but it confirms a history of haircut-associated bleeding in at least a quarter of our male study participants. The risk of transmission of blood-borne infection via haircuts is likely to be low, but requires formal quantification. Public education on adequate sterilisation of barber equipment between haircuts and promotion of individual hair-clipper ownership for chiskop clients should not be delayed. Depilatory creams formulated for African hair offer a non-mechanical means of achieving clean-shave hairstyles. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 7 J1 - South African Medical Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2013 SM - 0038-2469 T1 - Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut TI - Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKhumalo NP, Gantsho N, Gumedze F, Mthebe T. Health risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut. South African Medical Journal. 2013;103(7):489 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34899.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Dermatology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceSouth African Medical Journal
dc.source.journalissue7
dc.source.journalvolume103
dc.source.pagination489 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.6675
dc.subject.otherAcne Keloid
dc.subject.otherAdolescent
dc.subject.otherAdult
dc.subject.otherAged
dc.subject.otherCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.otherFemale
dc.subject.otherHumans
dc.subject.otherMale
dc.subject.otherMiddle Aged
dc.subject.otherRisk Factors
dc.subject.otherSkin Care
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.subject.otherYoung Adult
dc.titleHealth risks of the clean-shave chiskop haircut
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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