Hair Dye Allergy

Hair dye seems to be an easy remedy to hide those white locks of hair. Many youngsters use hair dye to give visually appealing color to their hair. Sounds interesting? Isn't it? But did you know that some of these have to visit a doctor to get treatment for allergic reaction from application of hair dye.

The severity of symptoms will differ from person to person, but in most cases, signs of an allergic reaction are noticed within 24 hours after application of hair dye. Scalp itching is the most common symptom. In addition, the scalp and the hairline may show signs of pimple or blister formation.

Dermatitis on the hairline is a common complaint among hair dye users. In some cases, contact dermatitis does not remain restricted to hairline but also spreads to the forehead and the neck. Apart from affecting the face, a severe allergic reaction may manifest in the form of swollen eyes.

Rashes and swelling is also seen in other parts of the body. The person may also experience fever and a nauseating feeling and may find it difficult to swallow food.

The best remedy for allergic reactions from hair care products is to get rid of it as early as possible. Rinsing hair with a mild shampoo, will remove all the applied hair dye and provide immediate relief from the symptoms.

A severe rash may require use of systemic corticosteroids that are administered orally or intravenously. On the other hand, topical eczema creams such as Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus) may be recommended to treat facial rash.

Antihistamines like Benadryl are found to be effective to counteract the effects of allergic reactions. Claritin, yet another antihistamine helps to reduce scalp itching and swelling. One may either take the drug internally or use its topical form to apply it on the scalp.

Foods that act as skin healers should be included in the diet. One must eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Most importantly, intake of carrot juice or externally applying it, is found to be useful to treat a variety of skin disorders. Allergic reactions that affect the skin can also be successfully treated with the usage of carrot juice.

The best way to prevent allergic reaction from hair dye is by first applying a small amount of the solution of this product on the wrist or behind the ears. Allow the solution to remain on the skin for around 25-30 minutes and then wash it off with water.

These areas of the body have delicate skin, hence they are ideal to test for any allergic reaction. After washing the solution, keep a check on the appearance of the skin for a period of 24 hours. If the skin becomes red, irritated or shows development of blisters, then discarding this hair care product is recommended to be on the safer side.

On the whole, one needs to carefully select a hair dye product, after consulting a doctor. First of all, you need to introspect and decide whether it is necessary to change the color of your hair. A natural look of your hair would be far better than spending money on the treatment for hair dye allergy.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.