A few weeks ago, I experienced my first allergic reaction. I didn’t understand what was going on with my body and passed it off as a minor irritation. After a few days, I had painfully scratched away at my upper body and could barely handle the constant itch. I knew I must have had some sort of reaction, but couldn’t figure out anything new that I had introduced to my lifestyle.

I reevaluated my diet, but didn’t see anything significantly different in my food choices. I took note of all the products I remembered using over the last few weeks and a few stood out but I couldn’t narrow it down to anything.

I finally decided to go to the doctor for an allergy test. I found out I had a positive reaction to four different substances. Cobalt, Colophony, Formaldehyde , and p-Phenylenediamine. This allowed me to take a closer look at the source.

Cobalt: Can be found in vitamin B-12, which I was taking quite a bit of. It is also very similar to Nickel, so if you are allergic to Nickel, you most likely will have a similar reaction to cobalt. Check out this article for more info on items containing nickel and additional information. Its surprising how many objects contain nickel (i.e., your cell phone..). Plus, over the last few decades, the allergic effect it has on people seems only to be getting worse.

Colophony: Also known as Rosin. Rosin is an ingredient in printing inks, varnishes, adhesives, soap, soda, and sealing wax to name a few. Rosin can be used as a glazing agent in medicines and chewing gum. In pharmaceuticals, rosin forms an ingredient in several plasters and ointments.*

*This was an add-on perk. The doctor found I was allergic to the paper tape adhesive they used to conduct the allergy test. Not fun.

Formaldehyde: In my case, it was most likely from wearing new clothes before washing them, since a lot of clothing is treated with formaldehyde. It is also found in many popular hair dyes, which could also be a source of my reaction. Textile formaldehyde resins have been used on fabrics since the mid 1920’s by the textiles industry to make wrinkle and stain resistant garments.These resins can release significant amounts of formaldehyde. Not a good situation for those with chemical sensitivity. [source: click for more info]

And last, but certainly not least, the p-Phenylenediamine. I have narrowed it down to this chemical as the main culprit. And the cause: hair dye.

p-Phenylenediamine: Also called paraphenylenediamine or PPD, is a synthetic chemical. The EPA has not classified PPD as a carcinogen, therefore, no warnings of toxicity have been printed on boxes of hair dye.

The CDC lists PPD as being a contact allergen. Exposure routes are through inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, and skin and/or eye contact; symptoms of exposure include throat irritation, bronchial asthma, and sensitization dermatitis. Sensitization is a lifelong issue, which may lead to active sensitization to products including, but not limited to:

• Black clothing
• Printer ink
• Facsimile ink
• Hair dye
• Fur dye
• Leather dye
• Photographic products.

Do you have to completely give up dyeing your hair? Not exactly, but it should definitely be considered. :) I have been told over and over to let my hair go natural, but I am just not quite ready yet. I enjoy playing with different varieties  and colors, I just need to begin using alternative solutions if I want to play with color for a bit longer.

For those who do want to continue coloring their hair but find the chemicals in widely available dyes and highlighting treatments too harsh, a new crop of products promises to do the trick without causing allergic reactions or other health problems.

While green-friendly permanent hair dyes still require some of these chemicals–such as ammonia, peroxide, p-Phenylenediamine or diaminobenzene=AD in order to be effective, alternatives do exist that contain smaller amounts..

Ecocolors, which contains small amounts of ammonia and peroxide, has a soy and flax base and uses rosemary extract to condition the hair and flower essences instead of artificial scents. Another option is Herbatint. This ammonia-free permanent dye is biodegradable, but it does make use of low concentrations of p-Phenylenediamine and peroxide.

Meanwhile, temporary dyes and highlight treatments should be able to
color hair without the need for harsh chemicals. Naturcolor and Vegetel are shorter-lived options that do not contain any damaging chemicals, although their effect will only last a few washes.

One truly natural although temporary dye that has been around since Cleopatra herself is henna. Made from the powdered leaves of a desert shrub called Lawsonia, henna has been used for thousands of years to color hair and skin. Rainbow Henna makes a variety of 100 percent organic hair treatments ranging from blonde to black hair and everything in between. Meanwhile, Light Mountain sells an organic henna application kit familiar to those accustomed to traditional home hair coloring packages. While many such treatments are available at natural health and beauty supply retailers, others, such as the Italian-made Tocco Magico, may be available only at salons. Some products sold as henna have p-Phenylenediamine added, particularly “black henna”, so make sure to look at the label if you are trying to avoid harsh chemicals.

Recent studies have given those worried about the traditional hair dyes they use new reasons to switch to less harsh alternatives. A 1994 National Cancer Institute report found that deep-colored dyes (like dark brown and black), when used over prolonged periods of time, seemed to increase the risk of cancers such as non-Hodgkin=92s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Meanwhile a 2001 study by the International Journal of Cancer found that people who use permanent hair dye are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as those who go au naturel regarding hair color. Ouch!

Ecocolors,www.ecocolors.net

Herbatint,www.herb.it

Naturcolor,www.naturcolor.com

Rainbow Henna, www.rainbowresearch.com

Tocco Magico, www.toccomagico.it.

Peace and Progress,

Jessica Brothers

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Do not use the information for your own diagnosis. Only a medical professional can give an accurate diagnosis. See your doctor if you have concerns about your health or about the chemicals listed above. A naturopathic MD is always a good place to start. :)