Cosmetic Use Including Hair Dye Can Cause Serious Adverse Effects

Author: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Published: 2011/05/31 - Updated: 2015/03/31
Category Topic: Recalls, Warnings and Advisories - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Permanent hair dye gives the most serious effects but there are also many reactions to facial and body moisturizers and creams.

Introduction

Permanent hair dye gives the most serious adverse effects, yet there are also many reactions to facial and body moisturizers.

Main Content

This comes from the first report from the National Register of Adverse Effects from Cosmetic Products. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health wants more notifications of reactions to cosmetic products.

"The Register gives us a better overview of the products that cause adverse effects, the type of adverse effect and who experiences them. Then we can make an assessment and even warn against the use of certain products," says researcher Berit Granum at the Division of Environmental Medicine at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

During the first two years, the Register received 96 notifications, of which the majority related to product types as moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens and hair coloring products.

Dangerous hair dyes

Permanent (oxidative) hair dye is the product type that has given the most severe reactions. During the Register's first two operational years notifications were received from seven people, of which most were adverse effects of an allergic nature.

People who develop allergies to hair dye often have symptoms such as eczema, redness, blistering, and itching of the scalp, face and throat. People can also experience severe swelling on the forehead and around the eyes. Symptoms usually appear one to two days after hair coloring and may persist for about a week to several months.

Most adverse effects from moisturizers

Facial and body moisturizers are the product type that is most frequently reported to the register. The adverse effects vary from mild symptoms that disappear a few hours or a few days after the consumer has stopped using the product to severe reactions that may persist for several weeks with symptoms such as eczema, rash, blistering and itching.

What are cosmetic products

Cosmetic products are much more than make-up and perfume. It includes all products that are applied to the external parts of the body, such as teeth and oral mucous membranes and are intended to prevent body odour, to clean, perfume, protect, preserve or affect the appearance.

Therefore we can assume that virtually the entire population, both men and women, uses one or more cosmetic products daily. How are adverse effects reported

If you experience side effects when using cosmetic products it is important that you contact a health professional so that they can notify the Register.

The report "National Register of Adverse Effects from Cosmetic Products 2008-2010" provides an overview of the notifications that the registry received during the first two years of operation. The Department of Environmental Immunology at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has maintained the Register in collaboration with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority since June 2008.