HIV T HE BU SI NESS
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hen the HIV epidemic first raged in the 1980s and early 1990s, the virus was a terrifying unknown and diagnosis was a death sentence. Since then, things have come a long way. Modern treatments are effective and easy to take, and a HIV-positive person on medication can live a normal life. With successful treatment, they cannot pass the virus on. Despite this, stigma remains a problem, with persistent myths and misunderstandings about how HIV can be passed on. Those living with the virus face being denied treatments or turned away if they share their status. So, what do professionals in the hair, beauty and barbering sectors need to know?
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HIV AND THE SKIN Skin conditions are common and are among the early indicators of HIV infection. They range from those commonly seen in people without HIV, such as psoriasis and very dry skin, to the rare cancer Kaposi’s sarcoma, a tell-tale indicator of the virus. Bacterial, fungal or viral skin infections are also more common and more severe, as the HIV virus suppresses the immune system. On the scalp you might see seborrheic dermatitis – an inflammation of the skin around the sebaceous glands, causing red and flaking skin.
THE STIGMA With World AIDS Day coming up on 1 December, how have modern treatments transformed what it means to live with HIV, and what do hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists need to know about the virus? WORDS JULIETTE ASTRUP
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