Hair dye could lead to allergy epidemic
The chemical para-phenylenediamine, known as PPD, is found in two-thirds of all hair dyes, including most permanent colours. But the products can cause allergic contact dermatitis and even more severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis.
A spokeswoman for Allergy UK said: “People think if they’ve been using hair dye for some time without a problem, that will always be the case. But you can become sensitised at any point. We always advise people to do a skin patch test at least 48 hours before using any product as it can take that long to cause a reaction.”
Earlier this year, one woman, Julie McCabe, was left brain damaged after suffering a severe reaction while dying her hair.