FRIDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Hair dye allergies are on the rise largely due to growing numbers of young people who are using products containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and related agents, researchers report in an editorial in the Feb. 3 issue of BMJ. PPD allergies are typically marked by contact dermatitis and, in extreme cases, facial swelling.
John P. McFadden, B.M., F.R.C.P., of St. John's Institute of Dermatology in London, U.K., and colleagues report that dermatologists are noticing an increase in the frequency of positive reactions to PPD on patch tests. Surveys across the globe mirror these anecdotal reports. Specifically, a retrospective survey in London showed that the frequency of positive PPD patch tests doubled over six years. In addition, market research finds that more people are dying their hair and doing so at a younger age. Severe hair dye reactions have also been seen in children, the authors note.
Currently, PPD is allowed to comprise 6 percent of hair dye ingredients in the European Union, but no widely accepted alternatives to PPD or related chemicals exist. "Wider debate on the safety and composition of hair dye is overdue among medical and scientific communities, the public, and legislators," the researchers conclude.
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