In a move to make consumers aware of the side-effects of hair dyes, an allergist has called for allergy warnings on hair dye labels to draw attention to the risks of chemical reactions to hair dye. According to Vincent Crump, of the Auckland Allergy Clinic, continuous and extended use of hair dye, especially permanent colours, may elevate the chances of a person to a severe allergic reaction. “People need to be aware if you’re going to dye your hair – especially if it’s a permanent dye – that you run that risk," a newspaper quoted him, as saying.

Dr Crump has announced his concern after a report was carried on how a woman, Pam Douglas in Hamilton, had a bad reaction to hair dye, leading to other women coming forward in her support and to warn others of the effects.

Rosemary Fuller, a finance analyst, was at the receiving end when she got permanent colour applied at a salon last month, which led her face to swell up.

Another user, Kathy McLauchlan, said that her scalp blistered badly and her hair fell out in handfuls after she applied a semi-permanent colour bought from a supermarket. In fact, she is now persistent that she will not be colouring her hair ever again.

It was found that the chemical that is responsible for causing adverse reactions is called p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and, according to estimates, it is used in two thirds of permanent hair dyes available. But, one won’t find PPD on the list of 100 chemicals proposed to be banned from hair dyes being investigated by the Environmental Risk Management Authority.

However, the chemical has been branded as an extreme sensitiser by the European Commission’s scientific committee on consumer products. It was also banned in some countries. Now it is allowed to make up 6 per cent of a product, the same concentrations that are allowed here.

Dr Crump insisted that PPD was a bigger problem than overthe-counter products and requested the users to perform a patch test before every hair colour.