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2007-9-3 17:19:45 |
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As more people around the world color their hair, the number of people who suffer allergic reactions to hair dye is soaring, warns the British Medical Journal. The study said the allergic reactions are caused by para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and related compounds in a group of chemicals called aromatic amines, which have been used in hair dyes for more than a century, Agence France Presse reported. The allergic reactions can cause eczema on the face or around the hairline and, in severe cases, facial swelling and painful bruising. Citing case reports from a number of countries, the British Medical Journal said the worldwide incidence of PPD allergy is rapidly increasing. "Cultural and commercial pressures to dye hair and, perhaps, the widespread obsession with the 'culture of youth' are putting people at risk and increasing the burden on health services," the journal noted in it's Feb. 3 issue. But persuading people to change is difficult. "It may not be easy to reverse these trends ... as some patients have continued to use such dyes even when advised that they are allergic to them and risk severe reactions," the journal noted. ----- Last Updated: Feb. 02, 2007 Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved. |
