Hair Dye Allergies on a Rise!
On an average, approximately, 5% of hair dye users develop an allergy; most of it is an allergic contact dermatitis with itching and mild redness in the scalp. However, in rare cases it does affect the organs of the body severely. A lot of hair dressers are affected by a considerable amount of hand dermatitis. The main substance responsible for such allergies is called PPD (4- ParaPhenyleneDiamine).
PPD is very commonly available in the markets since the early 90s and is used in most of the hair dyes available today. If you have ever noticed, the commercial hair dye comes in two different bottles. One bottle contains the PPD based cream which is non-oxidized and hence simply colorless, whereas the other bottle contains the oxidized cream (also known as a developer), hydrogen peroxide in most cases. Initially, the oxidized cream is used to break the melanin pigment in the hair and then the PPD based cream is used to re-develop the melanin. The PPD reacts with the melanin pigment and then turns up to be partly oxidized and colored. It is this part which is mainly responsible for allergies. If the PPD is fully oxidized, it does not lead to allergies. PPD is also a preferred ingredient in a lot of dark colored cosmetics and many temporary tattoos. European countries such as France and Germany have banned the use of PPD in hair dyes for the reason that it was thought to be extremely dangerous to health.
Precautions:-
Make sure you are aware about the other names of PPD. PPD are also known as Ursola, Orsina and can also be termed as PPDA. Some of the other hazardous hair dye substances include Isatin, p-Methylaminophenol and 6-hydroxyindole. It is important to know that all the groups that chemically belong to R-N=N-r group might lead to allergies. These chemical groups can be found in ball point ink, temporary or permanent hair dyes, colors in food, some medications, PABA (para amino benzoic acid) found in sun protection creams, anesthetics, sulphate drugs and aminosalicyclic acid used to cure tuberculosis.
You might find packages in the market that say “Hypo allergic” or “Unscented”. This only means that the product might cause fewer allergies and is odorless but nothing is proven so far about the dye being allergy-free completely. Many a times even if the product is completely natural, it still causes allergies.
Types of Allergies:-
ACD known as allergic contact dermatitis is a skin reaction that occurs in a genetically pre-disposed person and the risk of allergies increases with the frequencies of contact with the allergen. It is observed that an individual develops sensitivity after approximately 10 days of usage of the PPD. However, at the time of the subsequent contact, the sensation might develop in about 48-72 hours. Here the PPD molecules are destroyed by the lymphocytes and the macrophages which appear as granules and are evident to the human eyes in the form of redness or rashes on the skin. For a majority, the affected parts are the eyelids, scalp, and ears. Symptoms are redness, burning and itching.
Contact urticaria may perhaps develop in minutes to about 1 hour subsequent to contact. Allergen (PPD) brings on very big IgE antibodies that lead to bigger vascular permeability with skin reddishness and edema (swelling of eyelids). Contact Urticaria Syndrome (CUS) with red patches over the whole body skin and bronchial asthma with wheezing, sneezing, difficult swallowing and vomiting can appear.
Anaphylactic shock is extremely rare but its life threatening condition. Face oedema, grasping for air, blood pressure fall, rapid worsening of patient’s general state and fast death if not immediate help is available is usual sequence of events. It was reported that a 38 year mother died in UK in August 2000 shortly after changing her hair dye. She was asthmatic before and she firstly developed a nonspecific allergy with scalp itching after using her old hair dye for some months. After changing the dye anaphylactic shock developed and she died within an hour after applying it
Test:-
Consumer can apply a 20 cent sized spot of solution (i.e. dye and developer mixed together) behind the ear or the inner bend of the elbow for 48-72 hours. If no irritation or rash occurs during this time then the test is negative and the hair color may be considered as safe to use. If rash of a certain size (according to test scale) develops, this is a sign of allergy.
Dermatologist will use a patch test. A patch with a 2% PPD in petrolatum is applied to the upper back and checked after 48 hours. Negative reactions show no skin changes, positive can vary from a mild rash to prominent blisters or ulcers. With “ready-to-use” T.R.U.E. patch test 24 possible allergies causing substances (including PPD) are used.
Treatment:-
In acute severe cases of PPD hair dye dermatitis the hair and scalp has to be washed thoroughly with a mild shampoo. 2% hydrogen peroxide solution or compresses of potassium permanganate in a 1:5000 dilution has to be applied to completely oxidize the PPD. To soften the crust a wet dressing of olive oil and lime may be used.
The patch test has to be made afterwards to determine if there an allergy to PPD exists or there is “only” a common (non-allergic) contact dermatitis present. In the case of proved allergic dermatitis corticosteroid cream which diminish immune response can be applied.
Currently there are no permanent hair dyes that can be safely used by PPD allergic individuals.
References:
http://emedicine.com/derm/topic84.htm Allergic contact dermatitis
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1319372.stm Anaphilactic shock
http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/59.html Anaphilactic shock
http://www.healthhype.com/hair-dye-allergies.html
http://dermnetnz.org/procedures/patch-tests.html Patch test
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1 comment June 9th, 2008