Can you be allergic to natural hair dyes?
In view of serious health warnings in the press regarding chemical hair dyes, I have been researching allergic reactions to henna and indigo. From everything I have read it would seem that PURE Henna is SAFE and allergies are very rare, but they do happen. Pure henna has been in use for thousands of years. It's one of the safest things you can put on your skin, and reactions are very unusual. On a note of caution, let me point out that anyone may react to a natural herbal product the same as to a synthetic chemical product. Therefore everyone should be cautious and do a patch test as well as strand test when trying it for the first time.
The reaction to pure henna appears to be a Type I allergic reaction, entirely different from and unrelated to the frequent Type IV sensitization to PPD in synthetic hair dyes. There have been only a few reports of Type I allergic reactions to pure henna. The allergy is called”napthoquinone sensitivity”. This allergic reaction includes a tight feeling in the chest, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and a dry cough. The onset is soon after the person is exposed to henna powder or paste. If you've never used henna before, you may want to do a skin test to be sure you're not allergic. Dab henna on your forearm and wait one hour. If you do not have the above symptoms within that hour, you are not allergic to henna. You may still be sensitive to henna and indigo though, more of that later.
It is very unusual for a person who is allergic to PPD in synthetic hair dyes to also be allergic to henna. PPD and henna have no family ties whatsoever and are totally unrelated, so if you’ve reacted to PPD it doesn’t mean you’re barred from natural plant dyes like pure henna & indigo but it does mean you must definitely steer clear of compound/pre-mixed hennas which may contain PPD dye. Always read the ingredients. If it says 100% henna and 100% indigo and nothing else, then it’s safe.
Natural henna is made from leaves of the lawsonia inermis plant, which provides a vegetable colouring that comes in shades of brown, green or red. Temporary colouring (dyeing) of the skin with natural henna is considered harmless and only lasts for a few days. I found no direct reference to henna allergy or sensitivity in my research. However, I found that some people do report itchiness and a burning sensation every time they apply henna and indigo. It would seem that some people are indigo sensitive and get an itchy scalp, although no spots or bumps, after an indigo application. Henna alone seems to work fine. This could be because indigo is an astringent and astringent substances tend to cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Applying Aloe vera gel after drying hair following henna/indigo has been recommended to settle the scalp and after the next hair wash, the irritation should vanish completely without the need for the gel. It could also be the fact that traces of indigo get left behind on the scalp and that the heat of a full head of hair combined with indigo particles left behind causes itching.
it is only a theory but it could be that people with PPD or other skin allergies use only the mildest of products due to their sensitivity and are just not accustomed to tolerating any strong substance on their scalp. And indigo is a strong substance, despite it being 100% herbal.
A lady in Germany has been quoted as saying that she is sensitive to both henna and indigo and experiences mild redness, irritation, and itchiness after henna and after indigo, but that she none the less loves using it and wouldn't change her henna / indigo routine for all the world ! She used to use chemical hair dyes and was losing hair and feeling generally unwell; she now says that she feels henna / indigo has actually boosted her health overall, that it gives her an overall sense of well being, and that she enjoys healthy hair and a stronger immune system. So despite the irritation, she perseveres and feels it is quite tolerable.
I think that's the real criterion, isn't it - if you find it tolerable, then continue to use it, but if it's severe irritation and it makes you suffer, then don't; it means that henna and indigo just aren't for you.
The reaction to pure henna appears to be a Type I allergic reaction, entirely different from and unrelated to the frequent Type IV sensitization to PPD in synthetic hair dyes. There have been only a few reports of Type I allergic reactions to pure henna. The allergy is called”napthoquinone sensitivity”. This allergic reaction includes a tight feeling in the chest, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and a dry cough. The onset is soon after the person is exposed to henna powder or paste. If you've never used henna before, you may want to do a skin test to be sure you're not allergic. Dab henna on your forearm and wait one hour. If you do not have the above symptoms within that hour, you are not allergic to henna. You may still be sensitive to henna and indigo though, more of that later.
It is very unusual for a person who is allergic to PPD in synthetic hair dyes to also be allergic to henna. PPD and henna have no family ties whatsoever and are totally unrelated, so if you’ve reacted to PPD it doesn’t mean you’re barred from natural plant dyes like pure henna & indigo but it does mean you must definitely steer clear of compound/pre-mixed hennas which may contain PPD dye. Always read the ingredients. If it says 100% henna and 100% indigo and nothing else, then it’s safe.
Natural henna is made from leaves of the lawsonia inermis plant, which provides a vegetable colouring that comes in shades of brown, green or red. Temporary colouring (dyeing) of the skin with natural henna is considered harmless and only lasts for a few days. I found no direct reference to henna allergy or sensitivity in my research. However, I found that some people do report itchiness and a burning sensation every time they apply henna and indigo. It would seem that some people are indigo sensitive and get an itchy scalp, although no spots or bumps, after an indigo application. Henna alone seems to work fine. This could be because indigo is an astringent and astringent substances tend to cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Applying Aloe vera gel after drying hair following henna/indigo has been recommended to settle the scalp and after the next hair wash, the irritation should vanish completely without the need for the gel. It could also be the fact that traces of indigo get left behind on the scalp and that the heat of a full head of hair combined with indigo particles left behind causes itching.
it is only a theory but it could be that people with PPD or other skin allergies use only the mildest of products due to their sensitivity and are just not accustomed to tolerating any strong substance on their scalp. And indigo is a strong substance, despite it being 100% herbal.
A lady in Germany has been quoted as saying that she is sensitive to both henna and indigo and experiences mild redness, irritation, and itchiness after henna and after indigo, but that she none the less loves using it and wouldn't change her henna / indigo routine for all the world ! She used to use chemical hair dyes and was losing hair and feeling generally unwell; she now says that she feels henna / indigo has actually boosted her health overall, that it gives her an overall sense of well being, and that she enjoys healthy hair and a stronger immune system. So despite the irritation, she perseveres and feels it is quite tolerable.
I think that's the real criterion, isn't it - if you find it tolerable, then continue to use it, but if it's severe irritation and it makes you suffer, then don't; it means that henna and indigo just aren't for you.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by HennaHelen on -
I think the allergic reaction to henna/indigo is so mild compared to a bad chemical reaction that it just once again shows why people should use eco-friendly, natural products.
About
Tweet your whereabouts!
© 2009 Created by HennaHelen on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
