Work Healthy - Asthma, eczema and your career

Textiles teacher

Risk level:

Creative with cloth

Textiles teachers have the freedom to work with their pupils to create things, which requires both teaching talent and nimble fingers. However, despite the cosy image, working as a textiles teacher can sometimes be tough on both the skin and airways.

What are the risks?

The air in textile workshops can be dry and dusty. If you already have severe asthma it could get worse, to the point where it would be difficult to carry on working as a textiles teacher. All contact with cloth and yarn is tough on the skin, which becomes rough and can dry out. However, this is likely to be a problem only if you are prone to hand eczema.

Nickel is found in many sewing items such as needles, zips and press studs. Contact with nickel can trigger a nickel allergy or exacerbate an existing allergy.

Prevention and avoidance

Protect your hands from drying out and from hand eczema by frequently rubbing in a moisturising cream. If you are allergic to nickel, look for nickel-free sewing items instead.

It's worth knowing that if you have severe asthma, you should discuss your career choice with your doctor. If your asthma gets worse, you may be forced to choose a completely different career.

Working as a textiles teacher could aggravate a nickel allergy or asthma.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions or want to know more about allergy and eczema when working as a textile teacher, get in touch with your school nurse or careers adviser.

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