Most hair dyes contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD). People with hypoallergenic skin may experience adverse reactions to PPD. Don’t panic. You can easily manage hair dye allergies. Scroll down to learn about home remedies that can help you get rid of your allergy symptoms.

Do Hair Dye Ingredients Cause Allergies?

We use hair color products to make our hair look trendy and lustrous. But these products may contain chemical ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction (like contact dermatitis). The primary ingredient in these products that causes this reaction is paraphenylenediamine (PPD). This is usually used in printer ink and temporary tattoo ink. Packaged hair dye is usually sold with an oxidizer that partially oxidizes PPD. This effect is likely to cause an allergy. Along with PPD, another chemical compound called para toluenediamine (PTD) is added to hair dye formulations. Though PTD could be milder than PPD, it can cause allergies. Here are the signs and symptoms of such allergies.

Symptoms Of Hair Dye Allergy

The severity of your symptoms may vary. They can surface immediately or show up within 48 hours of using the hair dye. The symptoms include:

 Red rashes on your body  A stinging sensation on your scalp, face, and neck  Appearance of blisters  Swelling of the face and neck  Inflammation of the feet, hands, eyelids, and lips

Mild symptoms can be relieved by washing the hair with a mild shampoo to remove excess dye. Gentle application of moisturizers and topical steroids can help in taking care of the inflamed part of the skin. Sometimes, you can develop a severe reaction to these products. They can cause anaphylaxis, a condition characterized by fatigue, swelling of the throat, and increased difficulty in breathing. Anaphylaxis requires immediate attention, or it can turn fatal. Using certain home remedies can help in reducing the severity of the symptoms.

Home Remedies For Hair Dye Allergies

1. Honey

Honey is one of the oldest used traditional remedies for skin conditions. As it possesses immunomodulatory properties, it may help in reducing the lesions and rashes associated with atopic and contact dermatitis (1). You Will Need

1 tablespoon of honey Sterile gauze

What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Repeat 3-4 times daily until the allergy heals.

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has a therapeutic effect on the skin. It possesses wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties that can eliminate the redness and swelling associated with hair dye allergy. The plant can also promote faster healing (2). You Will Need Aloe vera leaf or gel What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This You can repeat this daily.

3. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties (3). It can help heal the inflamed lesions associated with hair dye allergies. The oil is also rich in wax esters that can help repair the skin. You Will Need 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This You can apply this oil at least 2 times a week.

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is widely used as a remedy for skin irritation. It possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (4). These properties can help decrease inflammation, redness, and pain that are usually associated with hair dye allergies. You Will Need 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 times a week.

5. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the swelling and rashes caused by contact dermatitis (a possible reaction to hair dyes) (5). You Will Need

A few drops of tea tree oil 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil

What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 times a week.

6. Peppermint

Peppermint possesses antipruritic properties (6). Hence, it may help soothe the itchy, red, and scaly rashes associated with hair dye allergy. You Will Need

1 cup of water A handful of peppermint leaves

What You Have To Do How Often Should You Do This Do this 2-3 times a week.

7. Witch Hazel

Witch hazel contains bioactive compounds, such as tannins and proanthocyanidins, that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties (7). It may help eliminate the redness, swelling, and itchiness associated with hair dye allergies. You Will Need Witch hazel extract What You Have To Do How Often Should You Do This Apply this to the affected areas 2-3 times a day.

8. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (8). This may help reduce the inflammation, redness, and pain caused by an allergic reaction to the PPD in hair dyes. You Will Need 1 cup of chamomile tea What You Have To Do How Often Should You Do This You can do this 2-3 times a week.

9. Olive Oil

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and other phenolic compounds. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that can be effective in alleviating the symptoms of hair dye allergies (9). You Will Need 1 tablespoon of olive oil What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Repeat this 2 times a week.

10. Sesame Oil

The sesamin in sesame oil has anti-inflammatory properties (10). It can help treat hair dye allergies by soothing the red and itchy rashes and swelling. You Will Need 2 tablespoons of sesame oil What You Have To Do How Often You Should Do This Do this 2 times a week. These home remedies may help treat hair dye allergies. But as we know, prevention is always better than cure. In the following section, we have listed certain tips you can follow.

Precautions To Bear In Mind

Always do a patch test of the product before using it. This will help minimize the chances of a possible allergic reaction. If you observe even the mildest allergic response to a chemical hair dye, stop using it immediately. If you want to get tattooed, make sure to check if you are allergic to the ink. People allergic to PPD or PTD could also be allergic to other substances, such as benzocaine, anesthetics, etc. Hence, keep your doctor, dentist, and hairstylist informed to avoid any mishaps.

How long does it take to treat a hair dye allergy? If you have a mild allergic reaction to a hair dye, it will last for 7-10 days. However, if you have a more serious case of the allergy, you may experience a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. In such cases, please seek immediate medical attention. Which hair dyes do not contain PPD? Most semi-permanent hair dyes may not contain PPD, but almost all dyes contain PTD. Madison Reed is one brand that is PPD-free. However, do check with your hairstylist prior to getting your hair colored. Can hair dye make you feel sick? Hair dye is formulated using chemical compounds that can cause skin toxicity. These can lead to an allergic reaction and may also make you feel sick. What can I use if I’m allergic to hair dye? You can use natural hair dyes like henna to cover your grays if you are allergic to hair dye. If you are allergic to a particular ingredient, such as paraphenylenediamine, look for dyes that do not contain this compound and have para-toluenediamine sulfates, a safer alternative, instead. Why is my head itching after hair dye? If you are allergic to the hair dye or if it contains harsh chemicals, it may irritate your scalp and lead to itching.