{
  "abstract": "Objective Eyelash extension is a beauty treatment established in recent years. Our hypothesis was that eyelash stylists would be professionally as well as personally affected by the conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to survey changes in working conditions and work-related symptoms among Swedish eyelash stylists during the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and Methods A questionnaire with 20 questions about work-related respiratory and eye symptoms, eczema, and working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic was sent by email to 154 eyelash stylists in June 2021. The eyelash stylists had previously participated in a survey with similar focus. In that study, the respondents had agreed to further contact. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm, Sweden.Results Thirty-six eyelash stylists responded to the survey (23% response rate). Among the respondents who had respiratory symptoms, hand eczema or eye symptoms previously, about 50%, 20% and 45%, respectively, reported that their symptoms had not changed. More than 80% reported that they had fewer customers than before the pandemic. Three respondents had stopped working as eyelash stylists because their businesses had closed due to COVID-19. About 50% of the respondents reported use of the same personal protection equipment as before the pandemic, whereas 45% reported that their protection was better than previously. Almost 60% reported concerns about getting infected with COVID-19 at work. More than 80% of the respondents were worried about their personal or their business’s finances and about 35% rated their mental health as ‘poor’.Conclusion Despite the limited number of respondents, the results indicate that the main impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were worries of getting infected, fewer customers and financial concerns among the eyelash stylists.Funding/acknowledgements The study was supported by AFA Insurance. We would like to acknowledge the eyelash stylists who responded to the survey.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Karolinska Institutet Institute of Environmental Medicine"
      ],
      "name": "Sara Gunnare"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Karolinska Institutet Institute of Environmental Medicine"
      ],
      "name": "Helen Wahlkvist"
    }
  ],
  "title": "8292639 Working conditions and work-related symptoms of eyelash stylists in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic",
  "uid": "dc0cd22f-38e8-520b-886c-0b3c845c4c8a"
}