Hair dye poisoning

Definition

Hair dye poisoning occurs when someone swallows dye or tint used to color hair.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Alternative Names

Hair tint poisoning

Poisonous Ingredient

• Permanent dyes
  • Naphthylamine
  • Other aromatic amino compounds
  • Phenylene diamines
  • Toluene diamines
• Temporary dyes
  • Arsenic
  • Bismuth
  • Denatured alcohol
  • Lead (see lead poisoning)
  • Mercury
  • Pyrogallol
  • Silver

Note: This list may not include all poisonous ingredients.

Where Found

• Various hair dyes

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Blurred vision
• Breathing difficulty
• Burning pain in the throat
• Burns to the eye
• Collapse
• Coma
• Diarrhea (watery, bloody)
• Low blood pressure
• Inability to walk in a normal manner
• No urine output
• Rash
• Slurred speech
• Stupor
• Vomiting

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Do NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Fluids
• Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
• Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, or prednisone)
• Surgical removal of burned skin (skin debridement)
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
• Washing of the skin (irrigation) -- perhaps every few hours for several days

If the poisoning is severe, you may be admitted to the hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is possible. The outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage can continue to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the product is swallowed.

Continued exposure to lead or mercury can lead to permanent brain and nervous system (neurological) damage.