Hair Dye is Unsafe: So Says the FDA

It is very interesting - and horrifying - to me that politics and money can play such a
huge role in keeping important information away from the very people (i.e., the
consumers) who need it most. If you color your hair, here is something you need to
know. Read the part that is in bold font twice.

Hair Dye Products

November 1, 1997

Hair dye products may be divided into three categories, i.e., permanent, semi-
permanent and temporary hair colors. Permanent hair colors are the most popular hair
dye products. They may be further divided into oxidation hair dyes and progressive hair
dyes. Oxidation hair dye products consist of (1) a solution of dye intermediates, e.g., p-
phenylenediamine, which form hair dyes on chemical reaction, and preformed dyes,
e.g., 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine, which already are dyes and are added to achieve the
intended shades, in an aqueous, ammoniacal vehicle containing soap, detergents and
conditioning agents; and, (2) a solution of hydrogen peroxide, usually 6%, in water or a
cream lotion.

The ammoniacal dye solution and the hydrogen peroxide solution, often called the
developer, are mixed shortly before application to the hair. The applied mixture causes
the hair to swell and the dye intermediates (and preformed dyes) penetrate the hair
shaft to some extent before they have fully reacted with each other and the hydrogen
peroxide and formed the hair dye.

Progressive hair dye products contain lead acetate as the active ingredient. Lead acetate
is approved as a color additive for coloring hair on the scalp at concentrations not
exceeding 0.6% w/v, calculated as metallic lead (21 CFR 73.2396). Bismuth citrate, the
other approved color additive (21 CFR 73.2110), is used to a much lesser extent.
Progressive hair dyes change the color of hair gradually from light straw color to almost
black by reacting with the sulfur of hair keratin as well as oxidizing on the hair surface.

Semi-permanent and temporary hair coloring products are solutions (on rare occasions
dry powders) of various coal-tar, i.e. synthetic organic, dyes which deposit and adhere to
the hair shaft to a greater or lesser extent. Temporary hair colors must be reapplied after
each shampooing. The vehicle may consist of water, organic solvents, gums, surfactants
and conditioning agents. The coal-tar dyes are either listed and certified colors additives
or dyes for which approval has not been sought. The dyes may not be non-permitted
metallic salts or vegetable substances.

A hair dye product containing a non-approved coal-tar color (but not a non-approved
metallic or vegetable dye) which is known to cause adverse reactions under conditions of
use cannot be considered adulterated if the label bears the caution statement provided
in section 601(a) of the FD&C Act and offers adequate directions for preliminary patch
testing by consumers for skin sensitivity. The caution statement reads as follows:
Caution - This product contains ingredients which may cause skin irritation on certain
individuals and a preliminary test according to accompanying directions should first be
made. This product must not be used for dyeing the eyelashes or eyebrows; to do may
cause blindness.

If the label of a coal-tar color-containing hair dye product does not bear the caution
statement of section 601(a) and the patch testing directions, it may be subject to
regulatory action if it is determined to be harmful under customary conditions of use.

Several coal-tar hair dye ingredients have been found to cause cancer in laboratory
animals. In the case of 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine (4-MMPD, 2,4-diaminoanisole)
which had also been demonstrated in human and animal studies to penetrate the skin,
the agency considered the risk associated with its use in hair dyes a "material fact"
which should be made known to consumers. The regulation requiring a label warning on
hair dye products containing 4-MMPD published in October 1979 was to become
effective April 16, 1980. The regulation required that hair dyes containing 4-MMPD bear
the following warning:

Warning - Contains an ingredient that can penetrate your skin and has been determined
to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Some hair dyes manufacturers held that the potential risk was too small to be
considered "material" and challenged the validity of the regulation in court. The agency
decided to reconsider its earlier position, entered into a consent agreement with hair dye
manufacturers, and stayed the effectiveness of the regulation until completion of an
assessment of the carcinogenic risk of 4-MMPD in accordance with scientifically
accepted procedures. [please note: These studies were never done - PrettyGreenBrain].

In addition to 4-MMPD, the following other hair dye ingredients have been reported to
cause cancer in at least one animal species in lifetime feeding studies: 4-chloro-m-
phenylenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and 4-amino-2-
nitrophenol. They were also found to penetrate human and animal skin.

Source:
http://www.prettygreenbrain.com/2009/09/hair-dye-is-unsafe-so-says-fda.html

THE NEWS Coloring your hair can increase your risk of a blood cancer called lymphoma.

A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that people who dye their hair could
have as much as a 37% higher risk of lymphoma than women and men who leave their hair au naturel.
The researchers interviewed 4,719 people, half of whom had the cancer, to reach their results.
BUT... The danger seems to have passed The study detected no significant risk for people who began
dyeing their hair after 1980. The most likely reason? In 1979, manufacturers stopped using known
carcinogens in their dyes. But even for people whose hair-coloring history dates back to the 1970s, the
overall danger is small: 14 people in 100,000 get lymphoma; for longtime dye devotees, the incidence
might go up to 17 in 100,000, say experts.

BOTTOM LINE Color awayResearch on dyes will no doubt continue, but it seems clear that the milder
formulations now used in dyes pose little risk. If you're still concerned, be sure to leave dye on only as
long as instructed and rinse your scalp thoroughly when done. If you go to a salon to see a colorist, be
sure she sets a timer.

source: http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/does-hair-dye-really-cause-
cancer/8d25323b0b803110VgnVCM20000012281eac____/health/conditions.treatments/cancer/preven
tion/

Colourings used in some hair dyes could cause cancer, it has been claimed.

A European Commission watchdog has criticised the hair dye industry for failing to provide evidence of
the safety of its products.

Isn't it amazing that a product should have such wide gaps in its toxicological requirements but be on
sale?

Dr Ian White
The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-food Products intended for Consumers says without
adequate evidence it is unable to carry out a full risk assessment.

The Cancer Research Society has responded by advising consumers not to use the products until further
research has been completed.

Most concerns surround dark-coloured, permanent dyes used every four to six weeks.

Scientists are particularly worried about two chemical ingredients, para-phenylenediamine and
tetrahydro-6-nitroquinoxaline.
 
These chemicals have been shown to damage the body's genetic material, and to cause cancer in
animals.

It is not the first time that fears have been raised about the safety of permanent hair dyes, which have
previously been linked to arthritis and damage to unborn children. 

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1934496.stm
Color Effects on The Human Brain

The human capacity to distinguish between colors is a result of millions of years of

There are animals which became monochromats because they became accustomed to
nocturnal life. Others became dichromats, only capable of distinguising particular color
ranges that might suggest danger, while others, including man became a trichromat.
Trichromats are capable of distinguishing a wider range of colors than the former two,
however still limited compared to tetrachromats like some species of fish and birds
capable of seeing even the ultra violet range of light. The ability to distinguish between
range of colors is made possible by a protein called opsin. Opsin separates the
pigments on the color wavelengths that passes through the cones or photoreceptors
present in the eye in order to distinguish one from the other.
We often associate certain behaviors as a result of certain colors dominant in the
environment. Red for passion, yellow for something that makes us think happy
thoughts, others think that orange has a certain aphrodisiac quality, pink is usually
thought of as feminine, blue for masculine sometimes for something cold, green for
nature and generally thought of as a very relaxing color like blue, brown for earthy,
purple as the color of royalty. Hospitals are generally pervaded with white or green,
white being usually associated with cleanliness and green to soothe patients minds. It is
generally agreed that it is best to minimize warm colors like yellow in kindergarten
schools to avoid hyperactivity among children. The association of red to passion or
anger or any extreme or dangerous emotions probably stemmed from the fact that the
color of blood is red. A lot of studies have been conducted in order to verify these
observations on the effect of colors to human psychology, however up until now there is
still no concrete explanation reached.
Apparently, there are certain cultures who only have two or three words to distinguish
colors from one another, usually separating the bright ones from the dark ones mainly. It
is generally thought of that the more dominant colors accross cultures are black, white
and red among others. As human society continues to evolve, wider spectrum of colors
are being introduced to individuals. Colors previously not commonly accepted as natural
like blue on food, drinks, etc, are being experimented on and little by little are being
culturally recognized like a certain blue soda, pink shirt on the alpha male, and other
gender prejudices regarding color is slowly getting blurred.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366234_color-effects-on-the-human-
brain#ixzz1ItA4aXHh
Hair Dye Linked to Blood Cancer
Long-Term Use of Dark, Permanent Dye May Raise Lymphoma Risk
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health NewsJan. 26, 2004 -- Long-term use of permanent hair dye -- in dark colors --
doubles a person's risk of certain blood cancers, new research shows. 

Earlier studies have linked permanent hair dyes to bladder cancer as well as to the group of
diseases known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma rates are up all over
the world. Nobody knows why, says Yale researcher Tongzhang Zheng, ScD. 

Zheng suspected that hair dyes might play a role. Use of hair dye is increasing. And the products
-- especially the permanent types in dark colors -- may expose users to dangerous chemicals. So
Zheng led a research team that analyzed hair dye use in 601 women with non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma and in 717 similar women without cancer. 

The results: An increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was observed for women who
reported the use of hair coloring products before 1980. Women who used dark-colored
permanent hair-coloring products for more than 25 years doubled their risk of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma. The risk was nearly the same for women who used more than 200 applications of
these products. No increased risk was seen in women who used semi-permanent dyes or
temporary rinses. 

In adults, according to Cancer Research UK, ‘some research has shown that using hair dye may
lead to an increased risk of bladder cancer, while other research has suggested it doesn’t'. 

Some studies have shown a possible ‘extremely small’ added risk of blood cancers – non
Hodgkin's lymphomas, leukemia and myeloma. On the whole, however, the charity believes
modern colorings are pretty safe. 

The current debate centers on permanent hair colours (because they’re left on the absorbent
scalp for some time), principally the dark colours which include a chemical compound called
PPD (paraphenylenediamine), but ‘there is no concern over the safety of semi-permanent dyes
that wash out’, says Cancer Research. 

Concern about cancer risk is largely limited to the semi-permanent dyes and the oxidative type
of permanent dyes. Because dark brown and black dyes have higher concentrations of
suspected cancer-causing substances (carcinogens), these products are of greatest potential
concern. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides some suggestions for people worried
about hair dyes as a cancer risk factor (FDA, 1993), (FDA, 1997): 

Don't leave the dye on your head any longer than necessary. 
Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after use. 
Wear gloves when using hair dye. 
Carefully follow the directions in the hair dye package. 
Never mix different hair dye products, because you may cause potentially harmful reactions. 
Be sure to do a patch test for allergic reactions before putting the dye in your hair. Do a patch
test before every use. 
Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. 
Delay dyeing hair until later in life when it starts to turn gray. 
Consider using henna, which is largely plant-based, or hair dyes that are lead acetate-based. 

In regards to pregnant women, as far as the baby is concerned, consultant gynaecologist

Medical researcher Dr Paula Baillie-Hamilton, author of Toxic Overload, agrees: ‘It’s a little like
playing Russian roulette with your baby's future health. Exposing unborn foetuses to a blast of
synthetic chemicals could potentially cause serious long-term damage, especially in the first 12
weeks.’ 

She explains that unborn babies do not have ‘a mature, well-functioning detoxification

They are also far more sensitive to chemicals, so much lower levels may causedamage.
‘Hair dyes can contain a soup of foetus-poisoning chemical compounds such as
ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, mercury, lead, analine dyes and benzene derivatives.
'These chemicals are not only absorbed through the scalp but also by inhaling the toxic fumes.
Once these chemicals enter 
the mother's blood, some will be passed to the foetus.’
Both experts agree that the safest option is not to use hair dye especially during the first three
months.

- ADDED INFO -

Analine Derivitive hair dyes have been linked to bladder cancer, no ifs ands or buts! My sister
who dyed her hair black for many, many years has had part of her bladder removed and her
oncologist has told her the hair dye IS a possibility as to why she ended up with bladder cancer.

A friend of the family (71 yrs. of age)has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and
she has dyed her hair for many many years.

Source:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100102142316AAIGDd2