title: Hair dye dermatitis and p-phenylenediamine contact sensitivity: A preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The contact allergic reactions from p-phenylenediamine (PPD) in hair dyes vary from mild contact dermatitis to severe life- threatening events (angioedema, bronchospasm, asthma, renal impairment).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical patterns and PPD contact sensitivity in patients with hair-dye dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty (M:F 47:33) consecutive patients aged between 18 and 74 years suspected to have contact allergy from hair dye were studied by patch testing with Indian Standard Series including p-phenylenediamine (PPD, 1.0% pet).
  
  
  RESULTS
  54 Fifty-four (M:F 21:33) patients showed positive patch tests from PPD. Eight of these patients also showed positive patch test reaction from fragrance mix, thiuram mix, paraben mix, or colophony. Fifty-seven (71%) patients affected were aged older than 40 years. The duration of dermatitis varied from < 1 month to > 1 year with exacerbation following hair coloring. Forty-nine patients had dermatitis of scalp and/or scalp margins and 23 patients had face and neck dermatitis. Periorbital dermatitis, chronic actinic dermatitis, and erythema multiforme-like lesions were seen in 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hair dyes and PPD constitute a significant cause of contact dermatitis. There is an urgent need for creating consumer awareness regarding hair-dyes contact sensitivity and the significance of performing sensitivity testing prior to actual use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mrinal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vikram K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Karaninder S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pushpinder S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
keywords: Contact dermatitis; PPD sensitization; cosmetic dermatitis; hair colors; hair dye; p-phenylenediamine; periorbital dermatitis; scalp dermatitis