Allergy to PPD?

[Cathie87]

Hi! I have been colouring my hair blond for 20 years using different products and brands available on the market.  I never had any problem until last time.  Around 24 hours later, my eyelids started to get itchy.  In the matter of 20 minutes, they had become very swollen.  The next day when I woke up, they were SO swollen I could not see a thing.  My lips wre also a bit swollen as well as my throat.  I was totally disfigured and stayed this way for 3 days!  HORROR!!... Have I suddenly become allergic to the PPD contained in most colorants?  Has anybody suffered such a reaction?  Do you know any alternatives to color hair safely, at least the time I go back gradually to my natural colour?  I'm stuck and very worried of what would happen if I had another episode... Please, help!

[shannynxo]

i have been dyeing my hair for years and only in the last 4 yrs have i discovered i was allergic to ppd i dye my hair black the first time it happened to me was at a salon they dyed my hair and the next day i woke up and my ears were swollen then they started to puss and peel super gross ..so i now buy amonia free hair dye and havent had a reaction ... stupid mistake was going to the salon and asking for amonia free hair colour because its not and i ended up with the same the swollen ears and itchy head ...brutall . i try and keep it clean with peroxide and polysporin but it is sore and painful. anybody know any fast ways for it to heal

[jillybean700]

The first thing to do to stop the burning/itching/swelling as soon as possible is to neutralize the reaction with 2% Hydrogen Peroxide bought at the pharmacy and used normally for cuts and scrapes. Pour it on your hair and scalp and behind your ears. Just make  sure you don't get it in your eyes! Then go to doctors for steroids as soon as possible. If you dye your hair again the reaction will be more severe the next time. I don't seem to be allergic to bleach so now I am a blonde! Do a google search for PPD Allergy help forums. This is a growing problem that people need to be made aware of. There is also a huge list of things you may now be allergic too all derivatives of PPD. You are not alone. Seek out others with the same problem and gather as much information as you can.

[ev606]

should you wash your hair while having these burning itching on your head??? and how long is this going to last? and how about the swelling of the face? should i be out in the sun?

[Allergic2PPD]

Wow, I have a very similar history with yours. My reaction was so bad I had to stay in the hospital for a week. I also got a 'henna' tattoo in Cyprus once, but of course it had nothing to do with henna ann everything to do with some kind of black ink that burnt the skin on my shoulder to weeping blisters... It's a shame we are allergic to these things :( I would love to be able colour my hair any colour, but I can only take plain ol' peroxide highlights these days. Soon, maybe that is bad for me too.

[MakeUp_Medic]

I have a PPD allergy that is so bad, dying my hair black almost killed me. Literally. Ambulance, hospital, open wounds on my scalp, swelling, throat closed, months of steroids then massive hair loss. I thought I was doomed to grey hair but when I was being treated at Sunnybrook Hospital a dermatologist came up with a solution. Elumen, made by Goldwell, is a magnetic hair dye and contains nothing that anyone with allergies will react to. It is a savior. You can get it done at a few salons in TO or you can buy it at Cosmetic World or Trade Secrets. You need to buy the colour and a 'lock' which makes it latch onto your hair. Lasts just as long as regular permenant hair dye and the colours are great.
BEWARE of health food store hair dyes that claim to be 'all natural'. In Cananda things only have to be 3% natural to make that claim. Henna... also a no no. I have the ambulance receipts to prove it.

Laura Mac Con

[lcb53]

I have had allergies for many years and carry an epi pen. I have been suffering with swollen, dry chapped lips and have been diagnosed with PPD and Isothiazolinone allergies. I don't dye my hair and have stopped using my shampoo, conditioner makeup and soap. I was using Vaseline Lip Therapy mega times of day. I have stopped using that after reading about petroleum products being an irritating. My lips are better but I am starting to think it is something else in the long list of PPD products. How can I find information on the printing  dyes containing PPD? Any ideas?