Dirty helmets pose risks

Scooter riders beware: wearing a dirty safety helmet in hot weather can lead to various skin diseases and even baldness, doctors in Taipei said. A study conducted in Taipei revealed that 75 percent of scooter drivers in the city do not regularly clean their helmets, while only 67 percent occasionally bother to clean their helmets, local media reported yesterday. Wearing a safety helmet in a hot country can lead to skin problems if the helmet isn't cleaned often enough, as bacteria might gather inside due to the driver's sweat and a lack of air, the report said. Drivers with dirty helmets can develop various skin diseases, including severe dandruff, inflammation of the hair follicles, fungus infections and even baldness, according to dermatologists quoted in the report.