Hair Dying and Allergic Reactions: The Ugly Truth
By Dying Your Hair You Risk Developing a Severe Allergic Reaction Over Time
The reaction's can cause dermatitis on the face and in more severe cases facial swelling.
The allergic reactions are showing up more and more in young adults who are changing their hair color frequently due to an active ingredient in their hair dyes. The ingredient, para-phenylenediamine or PPD has already been banned in some European countries including France, Germany and Sweden. In the UK alone 750,000 people have tested positive for the allergic reaction.
I will admit that I use two hair dyes when I'm coloring my hair, Kinky Red which is a more purple-ish red and Dark Brown which, when mixed together, comes out looking dark red with my hair. It took me many dye jobs to get it just right and when I was younger I used a lot of very bright colors such as pink and blue to color my hair with. Looking back on my high school years I can only imagine what I was doing to my hair.
I was surprised to learn from reading this study that more than two thirds of hair dyes currently contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and other related agents. Current European Union legislation allows PPD to comprise up to 6% of the constituents of hair dyes on the consumer market, but no satisfactory or widely accepted alternatives to these agents are available for use in permanent hair dye.
The report also states that Dermatologists are reporting the positive reactions to PPD is increasing. A recent London based survey also confirmed a doubling in allergic reactions to PPD over six years in a clinic for adults with contact dermatitis. But the trend has also been observed in other countries in Europe where people tend to dye their hair frequently.
But the reaction's aren't just affecting young adults alone, it also affects older people who spend their time at the hair salon or use home based hair dye products. The allergic reactions have also been noticed in children who are having even more sever reactions to the dye due to their hair follicles not maturing. Dying a child's hair is never a good idea due to the damage it can cause, but more and more children are being seen with dyed hair, especially children in shows or pageants.
A survey in 1992 by the Japan Soap and Detergent Association found 13% of female high school students in Japan, 6% of women in their 20s, and 2% of men in their 20s reported using hair coloring products. By 2001 the proportions had increased in these three groups to 41%, 85%, and 33%, respectively.
The author's of the study in the British Medical Journal have said that wider debate on the safety and composition of hair dyes is overdue. Cultural, commercial pressures and the desire to stay young looking are causing people to dye their hair and that say the author's are putting people at the most risk and increasing the burden on health services who have to treat victim's of the reactions.
The British Medical Journal also concluded it may not be easy to reverse these trends. Some patients express a desire to continue using hair dye products even after being advised that they are allergic to them and it could have detrimental effects on their health and body.
Published by Lisa Stevens - Featured Contributor in Travel
Lisa Stevens is a full time freelance writer, wife and mother. Lisa enjoys crafts, knitting and traveling anywhere that allows her to discover new and interesting places to write about. She also likes findin... View profile
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- Some patients express a desire to continue using hair dye products even after being advised that they are allergic to them.
- Use of hair dye's longterm can cause a severe allergic reaction to PPD.
53 Comments
Post a CommentI have been getting the roots of my hair bleached for about 17 yrs and it is only recently that every time I get it done I have a bad allergic reaction. first the palms of my hands start to itch and go red then my neck and chest and then under my arms. This is really weid it doesnt last long maybe a few hours at the most then its gone. I am seriousy thinking about just going back to my normal colour what ever that is now lol. This is serious and this site has made me take a serious look at what I am putting on and into my body.
Not to be nitpicky, but the dye colors you name at the beginning of the article seem to be color titles from the special effects and manic panic lines of hair dye, which actually are PPD free and do not usually cause reactions in individuals with PPD sensitivity. Other than that, great article--I just recently discovered that I have a PPD allergy and can no longer use permanent hair dyes, and it is sad how little awareness there is of this problem within the general public. I know many individuals who do not bother to carry out patch tests because they assume that a dye they have used before is safe.
Thanks to all of you. YOu all have helped me figure out what has happened to my scalp. I have been coloring my hair for a few years then i stopped because of my CNA 1 class but i just finished the class and colored it black about 2 days ago i only had the color in for about 10 minutes because my hair i bark as it is but i have developed the itchiness and soreness on my scalp and ears and neck i just bought the T/Gel shampoo and i hope it works. So thanks to everybody again. You all have been such a help to me
Question:
Apply Patene Haircoloring for Woman of Color in my hair 2 weeks ago, having a bad reactions from this product. Any suggestions?
me too! difficulty swallowing or dysphagia! my swallowing problem lasted months and months...after Ihad dyedmyhair probably TWENTY times or MORE within amatter of weeks..trying to get the "right" color... my scalp was numb for days.. and I had dysphagia! found out im sensitive to MSG too... when I eat MSG now Ihave problems swallowing... hair color, dye or what? but I found out MSG is IN the hair dye it usually says citric acid or hydrolyzed protein.... the doctors also said its nerves but it wasnt.
hanina, I might recommend seeing a Doctor about that. A friend of mine also said she broke out in a sores and bumps after she received a bad sunburn on her head and dyed her hair 2 days after. I'm not sure if the latter relates to you or not, but I would see a Doctor to get a better answer.
I dyed my hair black 5 days ago. Ever since then, my head has been very itchy with red sores & itchy bumps on my neck & ears. Will it get worse? What can I do?
Please answer!!
wow i see now why my face is so swollen i hate this. my eyes are almost shut and my head is also swollen.i have scabs and ichy scalp. benadril is not working.. i used feria hair bleach.. it seems alot of dies and bleach is caousing this reaction im going to check for PPD.
My comment below is for "jj".
Well I'm not a doctor, but feeling like you can't swallow sounds like there is some swelling going on, so I can understand why you are scared. If I were you I would go to an allergist and get tested for allergy to PPD before using hair dye again. If your primary care doctor won't refer you to an allergist, tell him/her that you want a second opinion! Actually, I think you should just switch doctors, you deserve someone who will listen to you and look out for your health!