Hair dyes

Abstract

Contact dermatitis to hair dye ingredients have been known since human started dyeing with aromatic amines like p-phenylenediamine (PPD). Hair dye allergy may cause severe clinical reactions, with edema of the face, eyelids, and scalp. More moderate reactions such as erythema, suppuration, and ulceration, typically at the scalp margin, on the ears, and sometimes with evidence of eczema where the dye has run down the neck are seen. About half of today's population have dyed their hair sometime or the other, and of these, up to 14% have reported eczematous reactions. Allergic contact dermatitis has been seen to occur from all kinds of hair dyes (permanent oxidative, semipermanent, and temporary dyes), but is believed to be the most common with permanent dyes. Suggestions for patch testing are given. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.