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Hair Loss News Archives
February 2007
Allergy To Hair Dye Increasing
Allergic reactions to hair dye are increasing as more and younger people dye
their hair, warn researchers in this week's BMJ.
This can lead to dermatitis on the face and, in severe cases, facial swelling
may occur.
More than two thirds of hair dyes currently contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD)
and other related agents. During the 20th century, allergic reactions to PPD
became such a serious problem that it was banned from hair dyes in Germany,
France, and Sweden.
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.
Dermatologists report anecdotally that the frequency of positive reactions to
PPD on patch testing is increasing.
This was confirmed in a recent survey in
London, which found a doubling in frequency over six years to 7.1% in a clinic
for adults with contact dermatitis. This trend has also been observed in other
countries.
Market research also indicates that more people are dyeing their hair and are
doing so at a younger age.
A survey in 1992 by the Japan Soap and Detergent Association found 13% of female high school students, 6% of women in their 20s, and 2% of men in their 20s reported using hair colouring products.
By 2001 the
proportions had increased in these three groups to 41%, 85%, and 33%,
respectively.
Severe hair dye reactions among children have also recently been reported.
Wider debate on the safety and composition of hair dyes is overdue, say the
authors. Cultural and commercial pressures to dye hair are putting people at
risk and increasing the burden on health services.
It may not be easy to reverse these trends, however, as some patients have
continued to use such dyes even when advised that they are allergic to them and
risk severe reactions, they conclude.