• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.171-179
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• 2008

This study focuses on 130 estheticians currently working in and around Daegu and Gyeongbuk region, in order to find out the current state of affairs and side effects related to aromatherapy. This paper is based on a survey. SPSS win 11.0 program was used for the analysis of descriptive statistics and independent t-test. According to the result of analysis, about 33% of the estheticians have had allergy experience. And in terms of installation of an air ventilation fan, which is the most important facility in an treatment room, more than half (50.8%) replied they did not have one. There was a statistically significant difference between those estheticians suffering from allergy and those who did not, in symptoms of stuffy nose/rhinitis (P<0.01) and dry skin/itchiness (P<0.5). (Allergy symptoms from the 33% of estheticians were limited to those which occurred after he or she began career) On work related symptoms, those who had work history at hospitals/clinics or apothecaries were compared. A statistically relevant difference was confirmed between those estheticians with therapy experience and those who had none, in all symptoms except headaches and drowsiness/weariness. In other words, there was difference in symptoms such as dryness of skin/itchiness (P<0.01), stuffy nose/rhinitis, dry throat, tension/nervousness, dizziness, tired eyes(P<0.5), nausea, having trouble with focusing, and fatigue(P<0.1). Those estheticians who had a history of treatment especially suffered most from dryness of skin and itchiness. The rate of regular check-ups and the use of masks, employed for self protection, was lower than average (amounting to 5 points), with the use of masks especially having the lowest average (1.7) points.