Is Hair Dyed With Para-phenylenediamine Allergenic?

Abstract

Twenty individuals who had suffered from allergic contact dermatitis from p-phenylenediamine and had had strongly positive patch test reactions to this dye were recalled for patch testing with hair that had been dyed 24 hours previously withp-phenylenediamine. The patch test procedure was repeated in three weeks. None of the 20p-phenylenediamine-sensitive individuals showed any reaction to the dyed hair, either after 48 hours or at the end of three weeks. p-Phenylenediamine-sensitive individuals can come in intimate contact with hair and furs colored with this dye without risking dermatitis since the oxidizedp-phenylenediamine is not allergenic. This fact is of importance to^p-phenylenediamine-sensitive individuals who are hair dressers and beauticians who may be exposed to hair colored with this dye.