The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday urged people to only buy hair dye products approved by the agency and to follow instructions carefully to avoid irritating the scalp or causing an allergic reaction.
Sometimes people who have never dyed their hair before do not perform a test application and haphazardly apply the product directly to their hair and scalp, with it dripping on their neck and ears, which causes redness and irritation, and could lead to skin infection due to scratching, FDA Deputy Director Cheng Hwei-fang (陳惠芳) said.
Skin irritation and allergic reactions could be avoided by purchasing FDA-approved hair dye products and following the instructions, Cheng said.
Photo: CNA
Hair dye products are categorized as “specific purpose cosmetics,” FDA Medical Devices and Cosmetics Division section head Chang Chia-jung (張家榮) said.
While the agency has issued more than 7,000 permits for hair dyes, containing 104 ingredients, including wax, powder and liquid versions, it has not approved any shampoo for coloring and washing hair at the same time, Chang said.
People should avoid mixing hair dye products, which could cause unpredictable chemical reactions, he said.
The FDA recommends following six steps when dyeing hair at home: Choose products with clear labeling; make sure there are no open wounds or abnormal skin conditions on the scalp or surrounding area before applying; carefully follow the instructions and safety tips; brush or smear the dye on the hair instead of massaging it into the scalp; pay attention to the skin condition after coloring the hair; and wait at least three months before dyeing it again, he said.
People should not perm their hair within a week before or after coloring it, as dyeing or perming the hair can damage the hair cuticle, he said, adding that it is better to do the procedures at least seven days apart.
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital dermatologist Huang Yu-huei (黃毓惠) said that people should apply a small amount of hair dye behind the ear or the bend of the elbow with a cotton swab to see if it causes an allergic reaction before using a hair dye.
An allergic reaction does not always occur immediately, so people should wait about 48 hours to make sure they are not allergic to the chemicals in the product, Huang said.
People who have skin disorders such as seborrheic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis should avoid coloring their hair, she said.
Even people who do not have an allergic reaction to hair dye products should still apply the dye on the hair and not on their scalp, she said.
The misconception that dyeing the hair would cause balding or lead to gray hairs are unfounded, as hair dye does not reach the hair follicle, she said.
The FDA recommends wearing gloves and placing a towel over the neck when coloring hair at home, Chang said, adding that people should report adverse reactions to cosmetics, drugs, food or medical devices on the agency’s product quality management Web site (qms.fda.gov.tw/tcbw).
Additional reporting by Chiu Chih-jou
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