In the quest to enhance beauty, millions of people turn to hair dyeing as a means to enhance their appearance. Amidst the vibrant and stylish transformation, research has shown that there are potential health risks attached to it.
Ingredients Causing Skin Irritation and Allergies
Recent research has it that the ingredients in modern hair dyes can cause health issues ranging from skin irritability to allergic reactions. One of the ingredients is Para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical commonly used in permanent hair dyes to impart long-lasting color, and this pose a risk of causing cancer.
Carcinogenic Ingredients and Respiratory Issues
Ammonia is another ingredient in many hair dyes that’s carcinogenic. It’s used to open the hair cuticle for full color pigment into the hair shaft. Too much exposure to ammonia may lead to difficulty in breathing, air pollution, discomfort and conditions such as asthma, especially in salon that’s not well ventilated.
Other Chemicals and Improper Use
Moving away from PPD and ammonia, other chemicals such as resorcrinol and hydrogen peroxide have been linked to skin irritation and allergic reactions. They tend to cause scalp irritation/damage to hair shaft if improperly used.
Safety Measures for Salon Workers and Clients
The International Agency for Research on cancer (IARC), a subsidiary of the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated the need for caution at salons as people who work around hair dyes are likely to be more exposed than people who just dye their hair on occasion. Proper safety measures, such as wearing gloves during application of dye, adequate ventilation in salons and asking questions for potential allergies, can help reduce risks associated with hair dyeing to a reasonable level.
Prioritizing Well-being Over Beauty
To wrap it all up, let us not sacrifice our health at the altar of beauty; instead, we should carefully follow the directions in the hair dye package, making sure that our quest for self-expression never comes at the expense of well-being.
