Hair dye safety
Should we worry about the chemicals we’re using to colour our hair?
Should we worry about the chemicals we’re using to colour our hair?
Feeling it’s time to freshen up your hair colour? Many people who use hair dye do so without any evident problems. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for everyone.
Exact figures are hard to find but estimates suggest more than 70% of women and 20% of men colour their hair. And we’re starting younger and doing it more often.
Even if you’ve used hair dye many times with no adverse effects, it’s possible you could become sensitised to an ingredient and have a reaction the next time you colour your hair.
The culprit? Hair dyes typically contain ingredients known as “strong” or “extreme” skin sensitisers – substances that can potentially cause severe allergic reactions.
One of the most common sensitisers is called p-phenylenediamine (PPD). PPD is classified as an extreme sensitiser and is identified as a key cause of allergic reactions to hair dye.
It’s estimated PPD is used in more than two-thirds of permanent hair dyes you can buy off the shelves, including products marketed as “natural”, and is also common in salon dyes.
Regulations here allow PPD to comprise up to 2% of a hair dye.
Manufacturers aren’t required to state exactly how much PPD is present and, depending on the colour, the level can vary. There tends to be more PPD in darker dyes, bad news for wannabe brunettes. Semi-permanent dyes, which use different ingredients, don’t usually contain PPD.
You may never experience any problems with hair dyes. But there are some safety precautions you should take when using products:
If you’re susceptible to eczema or have other allergies, you may have a greater risk of a reaction to hair dyes.
Dermatologist Dr Amanda Oakley says allergic reactions range in severity. They occur when the body thinks a chemical is harmful and produces an immune response against it. The result is usually an acute contact dermatitis affecting all areas touched by the dye especially the face, neck and scalp.
Some allergic reactions may not happen straightaway. Dr Oakley says reactions to PPD, for example, usually occur between six and 36 hours after use. Symptoms can include marked reddening, swelling and blistering. The reaction tends to be less severe on the scalp than on the more sensitive skin of the face and neck.
In rare cases, allergy to a hair dye ingredient can cause anaphylaxis. This is an extreme allergic reaction that can be life threatening if not treated quickly. Symptoms include an immediate itchy rash, wheezing, difficulty breathing, faintness and collapse.
Hair dyes containing PPD and other sensitisers must carry the following warnings:
To test whether you’re allergic to a product, dye manufacturers usually recommend a patch test 48 hours before use. This involves applying a small amount of the product to your forearm or behind your ear. If a reaction occurs, you shouldn’t use the dye.
But patch tests may not be 100% reliable. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products has previously cautioned there’s a risk patch tests can give misleading and false-negative results.
The committee found patch tests can give people the false impression they’re not allergic or not at risk of developing an allergic reaction. One reason for this is the reaction time – reactions can take up to seven days to develop, not just 48 hours.
Permanent hair dyes work by penetrating the hair cuticles – the outer layer of your hair. Semi-permanents simply coat the outer layer and usually fade after a few washes. Permanent dyes last much longer – but not “permanently”. After a few weeks, you’ll get re-growth of your “normal” hair at the roots.
The Environmental Protection Authority is responsible for the Cosmetic Products Group Standard, which regulates hair dye ingredients.
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