A clean head saves grooming time and is trendy. However, a study has revealed that this type of shaving increases the chances of you being infected with hepatitis and even HIV. South African researchers carried out the study.
It revealed that clean shaves leave blood on shaving machines. According to the findings, this cut could be one of the major contributing factors that have led to the increase in Hepatitis B cases in the sub-Saharan region.
They found out that several hair clippers had blood-borne viruses. The DNA tested was enough to cause transmission from one person to another via the clippers.
The findings of this study, Blood and virus detection on barber clippers, were published in the South African Medical Journal. One of the researchers from the University of Cape Town, Dr Zandile Spengane, said that despite the failure to detect HIV, there is a risk of transmission while shaving.
“A history of haircut-associated bleeding as a result of clean-shave haircuts was an unexpected finding. The potential transmission of blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV is most concerning,” said Dr Spengane.
The study used a sample of 50 barbershops in Cape Town, South Africa. Chosen shops were requested to give their clippers immediately after a clean shave and cleaning their shaving machines in exchange for new clippers. The mode of cleaning was documented but a larger sample is needed to make conclusions.