What is PPD?

Paraphenylenediamine—more commonly known as PPD—is a chemical substance that is commonly found in permanent hair color and other dyes. PPD in hair color is most often used in dark shades; hair color companies use PPD pervasively because it provides long-lasting hair color that has a natural look.

PPD hair dye is used in both salon and at-home color because it is an effective ingredient in coloring dark hair. PPD is also commonly used in temporary tattoos, dark colored cosmetics, and even in textile dyes and printing inks.

Is PPD harmful?

Yes. Despite its efficacy in coloring hair, PPD has a well established reputation for negative side effects. Most commonly, PPD can cause reactions ranging from mild skin irritation to more severe allergic contact dermatitis. Sensitive individuals may experience dermatitis—skin inflammation and irritation commonly referred to as eczema. Eczema may first be noticed on the upper eyelids or rims of the ears after application of the hair color.

These symptoms often calm down after the dye is fully oxidized, but any type of rash and swelling is uncomfortable, even for a short time. In more serious cases, there may be marked reddening and swelling on the scalp and the face. An allergy to PPD can result in widespread contact dermatitis, as well as hives and, in rare severe cases, anaphylaxis.

In addition to users experiencing skin irritations from having their hair colored with permanent color containing PPD, people who frequently work with PPD—such as hair colorists—often develop dermatitis on their hands. This can occasionally spread to the arms and even the chest. Anyone who is planning on coloring their hair should complete a patch test following recommended directions in the packaging to determine their sensitivity with the product to avoid potential allergic reactions, and hair dressers should always use gloves when working with hair color containing PPD.

An increase in exposure correlates to an increased likelihood of reaction, even in people who may not have experienced dermatitis before.

In a study referenced here by ScienceDirect, the following was discovered about the topical application of PPD and how it has now been shown to affect internal organs.

The results proved that sub chronic dermal exposure to PPD can induce hyperglycemia, disturbed hepatic, renal and cardiac functions. The histopathological findings showed that PPD cause mild, moderate, and severe chronic inflammation in the heart and liver. In the kidney and pancreas it causes moderate and severe chronic inflammation. In a conclusion, this study established the multivisceral toxic effects of sub chronic dermal exposure to paraphenylene-diamine.

If you’ve used these products in the past with no negative reactions, this is no guarantee that you will not develop a sudden reaction in the future. Being pregnant makes you body more reactive to anything it perceives as a threat. Whilst the contact dermatitis might sound like a risk worth taking to keep gray hair at bay, the images below will give you an indication of just how severe and in some instances, life threatening, PDD reactions can be and this is only what takes place on the skin. Damage to organs may not be immediately evident.

Are there alternatives to PPD?

Yes, there is another commercially created variant of PPD called PTDS (para-toulenediamene sulfates) that was developed because of the increasing number of allergic reactions to PPD. Its important to note though that PTDS also occasionally elicits an allergic response and is only marginally safer than products containing PPD.

Your safest and healthiest options during pregnancy and after are the PPD and PTDS free hair colors. There are numerous of these that are freely available and carry organic certification from the Soil Association (UK) or the BDIH (German) or an applicable certification company. This ensures the quality of the ingredients.

Never purchase ‘homemade’ options online as you’ve no idea what these products really contain.

Below are links to some of these certified brands and a Google search for retailers in your country will provide online purchase options. Note the brands listed below are certified as Organic and despite articles insisting certification of hair dye is impossible, these are poorly researched and flawed with no understanding of the chemical compositions of the certified brands.

• Logona Herbal Hair Colors
• It’s Pure Organic Hair Color
• Sante Herbal Hair Colors

The following product is not certified but is free of PPD or PTSD

• Tints of Nature

Note, most sites will show a full list of ingredients for their product and you can scan these for the following ingredients you should avoid, even more so if you are pregnant.

• PPD (paraphenylenediamine)
• PTSD (para-toulenediamene sulfates)
• Toulene
• Ammonia
• Parabens
• Phthalates

Most of the organic products rely on Henna for the dying process and although there is no guarantee that you will not react to one of the natural ingredients, the risks are hugely reduced. Always do a skin sensitivity test on your inner arm with a bit of the dye before using any product.

Apply some of the mixed product to the inside of a plaster and leave it in place on your inner arm for 30 minutes. Remove and inspect the skin for any signs of irritation. If the skin appears red and irritated, try an alternative product.

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Eczema is not contagious. You can’t “catch it” from someone else. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers. When an irritant or an allergen from outside or inside the body “switches on” the immune system, it produces inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes the symptoms common to most types of eczema.

There are several different types of eczema that you should know about:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Dyshidrotic eczema
• Nummular eczema
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Stasis dermatitis

Though there are several distinct types of eczema, it is possible to have more than one type at a time. All types of eczema cause itching and redness, but some may also cause your skin to blister, “weep,” or peel.

It’s important to understand which type you or your child may have and also your symptoms and triggers, so that you can best treat and manage your eczema. But the only way to be sure that you or your child has eczema and which type, is to make an appointment with your doctor.

1. Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a type eczema that is chronic and inflammatory. Though the exact cause of atopic is unknown, it happens when the immune system goes into overdrive in response to an allergen or irritant inside or outside the body. AD usually begins in childhood, often in the first six months of the life. When you or your child have AD, it might improve at times or it may get worse (when you may experience what’s called a “flare”).

Atopic dermatitis is part of what’s called the atopic triad, which includes two other allergic conditions (asthma and hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis). Researchers believe that people who come from families with a history of atopic dermatitis, asthma and/or hay fever are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis themselves.

Some common symptoms of atopic dermatitis:

• Dry, scaly skin
• Redness (erythema)
• Itching
• Cracks behind the ears
• A rash on the cheeks, arms and legs
• Open, crusted or “weepy” sores (usually during flare-ups)

Read more about atopic dermatitis symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

2. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis happens when the skin touches irritating substances or allergens. These make the skin inflamed, causing it to burn, itch and become red. There are several kinds of contact dermatitis but irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis are the most common. Contact dermatitis usually appears on the hands, or parts of the body that touched the irritant/allergen.

The  most common irritants include:

• Solvents
• Industrial chemicals
• Detergents
• Fumes
• Tobacco smoke
• Paints
• Bleach
• Wool
• Acidic Foods
• Astringents
• Skin care products that content alcohol (but not cetyl alcohol)
• Some soaps and fragrances
• Allergens (usually animal dander or pollens)

Symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

• Redness and rash
• Burning or swelling
• Blisters that may weep or crust over

Read more about dyshidrotic eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

3. Dyshidrotic eczema

Dyshidrotic eczema is a condition that produces small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. Stress, allergies (such as hay fever), moist hands and feet, or exposure to nickel (in metal-plated jewelry), cobalt (found in metal-plated objects, and in pigments used in paints and enamels), or chromium salts (used in the manufacturing of cement, mortar, leather, paints, and anticorrosives) may be “triggers” of dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema is twice as common in women as it is in men.

Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema include:

• Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) on the fingers, hands, and feet
• Itching
• Redness
• Flaking
• Scaly, cracked skin
• Pain

Read more about dyshidrotic eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

4. Nummular eczema – nummular dermatitis

Nummular (numb-mu-LUR) eczema, also known as discoid eczema and nummular dermatitis, is a common type of eczema that can occur at any age. It looks very different than the usual eczema and can be much more difficult to treat. People with nummular eczema develop coin-shaped spots on their skin, which may be very itchy. It is thought to be “triggered” by things like insect bites, reactions to skin inflammation, or dry skin in the winter.

Some symptoms of nummular eczema include:

• Round, coin-shaped spots
• Itching
• Dry, scaly skin
• Wet, open sores

Read more about nummular eczema symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

5. Seborrheic dermatitis

Considered a chronic form of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis appears on the body where there are a lot of oil-producing (sebaceous) glands like the upper back, nose and scalp.

Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp is called dandruff.

The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, although genes and hormones play a role. Microorganisms such as yeast, that live on the skin naturally can also contribute to seborrheic dermatitis. Unlike many other forms of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis is not the result of an allergy.

People of any age can develop seborrheic dermatitis including infants (known as “cradle cap”). It is slightly more common in men than women.

People with certain diseases that affect the immune system, such as HIV or AIDS, and the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, are believed to be at an increased risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis often appears on the scalp, where symptoms may range from dry flakes (dandruff) to yellow, greasy scales with reddened skin. Patients can also develop seborrheic dermatitis on other oily areas of their body, such as the face, upper chest and back.

Common symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include:

• Redness
• Greasy, swollen skin
• White or yellowish crusty flakes

Read more about seborrheic dermatitis.

6. Stasis dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis is also called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema and venous stasis dermatitis. It happens when there is a problem with blood flow in the veins and pressure develops (usually in the lower legs). This pressure can cause fluid to leak out of the veins and into the skin, resulting in stasis dermatitis.

Symptoms of stasis dermatitis include:

• Swelling around the ankles
• Redness
• Scaling
• Itching
• Pain

And in more severe cases:

• Oozing
• Open areas (cracking or larger ulcers)
• Infection

Read more about stasis dermatitis symptoms, triggers and types of treatment.

The post The Different Types of Eczema appeared first on Medika Life.

When your skin comes into contact with a substance in the environment that you are allergic to, it may react by causing your skin to itch and become red. This is called contact dermatitis.

Types of Contact Dermatitis

There are many types of contact dermatitis. The three most common types are irritant, allergic and contact urticaria (hives).

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis. It can develop quickly when the skin touches an irritating chemical, is rubbed too hard, or comes in contact with heat. These substances break through the skin barrier and can cause inflammation.

If the skin is already open with a wound, or if you have active atopic dermatitis, it is much easier for these irritants to enter and cause irritant contact dermatitis.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is the second most common contact dermatitis type. Unlike, irritant contact dermatitis, the skin can take 48 to 96 hours to develop a reaction.

The first time the skin comes in contact with a new allergen, it sends a piece of the allergen off to the immune system for analysis and storage in the immune system’s memory bank, but does not cause a reaction. This process is called sensitization.

When the skin comes into contact with the substance over and over, the immune system “remembers it” and develops an itchy skin response. Because it can take a few days for the immune system to recognize the chemical, the skin symptoms may be appear several days after actual exposure.

Contact Urticaria

Contact urticaria, also known as hives, is a less common form of contact dermatitis. With contact urticaria, swelling and redness usually happen right away after the skin comes in contact with an irritating substance. It is usually not long-lasting.

There is rare but serious risk of an anaphylactic reaction (a severe allergic reaction that causes the throat to swell, chest tightness, and other symptoms) that can coincide with contact urticaria. If you think you are having an anaphylactic reaction, contact your doctor immediately.

What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?

Irritant contact dermatitis usually stays on the skin where the exposure to the allergen occurred. If the exposure is to a strong irritant, an immediate reaction including pain, swelling and sometimes blistering can be present. If there is ongoing exposure to a mild irritant such as water or soap, the reaction can occur over a period of weeks to months and involve dryness, itching and cracking.

Allergic contact dermatitis may also be limited to the site of original contact, but more often spreads. The skin becomes red, hot, itchy and may “weep.” Contact dermatitis can sometimes be very difficult to distinguish from atopic dermatitis, another form of eczema. Your doctor can help you with a correct diagnosis.

The skin signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis may appear similar to those of atopic dermatitis.

What causes contact dermatitis?

There are many different causes or triggers for contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis may develop from everyday substances such as water, too much pressure or friction on the skin and weather changes such as extreme temperature and humidity.

There are a large number of potential allergy-producing chemicals. Here are some common ones:

Metals

Nickel allergy is extremely common among adults and children. Nickel is found in a range of metallic items, such as jewelry, zippers, buttons, belt buckles and coins. It is also found in some less obvious places like, cell phones, white gold, some orthopedic joint replacements and certain foods.

Cobalt is found in metals, including nickel, and people allergic to nickel are often allergic to cobalt because of its widespread use. Cobalt is also used in personal products such as hair dyes and antiperspirants.

Chromium salts, often found in paints, cement, and leather products may cause allergic contact dermatitis and sometimes irritant contact dermatitis symptoms.

Fragrances

Fragrances are common triggers of ACD especially in people with damaged skin barriers, such as with atopic dermatitis. These substances can be found in various cosmetics, perfumes, food flavorings and toothpastes.

Anitibacterial Ointments

Antibacterial ointments such as neomycin and bacitracin are often used to treat everyday scratches and wounds, but some people develop allergic reactions.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a preservative. It is also a top adult and child allergen. Formaldehyde is in many places including household disinfectants, vaccines, glues and adhesives, cigarette smoke and embalming fluid.

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are in personal care products such as cosmetics and may trigger some individuals who are allergic to formaldehyde. Hidden sources of formaldehyde include “permanent press” and “wrinkle- resistant” clothing and the artificial sweetener, aspartame.

Isothiazolinones

Isothiazolinones, including methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) are used in many personal care products to prevent bacteria from growing and protect the product from oxygen and light damage. They are often found in many “wash-off” items such as shampoos, body washes and cosmetics. As well, they are found in some wet wipes, baby wipes and moistened toilet tissues.

Cocamidopropyl betaine

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is used mainly as a surfactant in cosmetic and personal care products. Surfactants clean skin and hair by helping water mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away. It may also be found in household cleaning products, including laundry detergents, hand dishwashing liquids and hard surface cleaners. CAPB can be safe in wash-off products at low concentration levels but should be avoided in leave-on products.

Paraphenylene-diamine

Paraphenylene-diamine (PPD) is a strong chemical used in hair-dye. It is not allowed in products that are meant to touch the skin due to the allergy potential.

Nevertheless, PPD continues to be used in various unregulated products for the skin such as temporary tattoos. PPD is often used to dye shoes black, and can cross-react with dyes used in clothing and some medications, such as antihistamines.

What is patch testing?

A patch test can help identify allergies

Patch testing is an important tool to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. In this test, selected chemicals put on an adhesive strip, or “patches” and applied to the back, where there are no symptoms.

The patches are left on for 48 hours. After 48 hours, the doctor removes the patches and looks at the skin for reactions. After two more days, the doctor looks at the patch sites for signs of inflammation. If there is inflammation, the allergy to that particular chemical is confirmed.

Contact dermatitis treatment

The best treatment for contact dermatitis is avoidance of the substance that caused the reaction. Keep a careful record of when a CD flare-up happens and what products you were using prior to the outbreak. Read labels for common irritants and eliminate those from your household. Look for items with the NEA Seal of Acceptance™ as these have been created for sensitive skin.

If the contact symptoms persist, your health care provider may prescribe a topical medication or phototherapy to calm the inflammation.

Some providers who often treat contact dermatitis subscribe to electronic programs that create shopping lists for people with allergies, such as the Contact Allergen Management Program (CAMP) and the Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD). Ask your health care provider if they subscribe.

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