Watch Out for Hair Dye

OB/GYN News, March 1, 2000 by Sally Koch Kubetin

Hair dye is underappreciated as an allergen in contact dermatitis, said Dr. James Taylor of the Cleveland Clinic.

Paraphenylendiamine (PPDA) in permanent hair-coloring products is the major culprit, causing contact dermatitis on the face and around the scalp and behind the ears, Dr. Taylor said at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Contact leukoderma, or depigmentation, as a reaction to PPDA is "exceedingly uncommon but one that you should be aware of," Dr. Taylor warned.

In one patient, pigment loss expanded on the forehead and behind the ears for 2 years after a single episode of hair dye use, showing that the effects of PPDA persist long after the application of hair dye. Several other cases have been reported.

Hairdressing as a profession can pose even greater hazards. Bronchospasm as a consequence of PPDA is usually seen in hairdressers, who are constantly exposed to PPDA. Other immediate reactions to PPDA, including contact urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis, have been reported from hair dyes.

When contact leukoderma from a potent depigmenting chemical is suspected, patch tests done to determine the allergen should be done, Dr. Taylor said.