HAIR COLORING DYES MAY CAUSE CANCER
Coloring the hair with different colors is an integral part of fashion today. Different types
of chemical dyes are available in the market which claim to do no harm but the reality is
different. A new research warns about hair coloring dyes usage. Scientists of Queens
University, Belfast has brought forward the facts and adverse effects. According to
them, coloring the hair for more than 9 times a year leads to chances of Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia in about 60 percent of the hair.
In India, an estimated 60 percent women and 10 percent men color their hair with dyes.
The research says that women who use thicker dark dyes are 50 percent more prone to
a type of cancer known as Follicular Lymphoma. Hair dyes are used directly on the
scalp. The hair follicles have fastest speed of blood due to which chances of spreading
the chemicals of dyes to other parts of the body. Dark, thicker dye are easily soaked by
the scalp skin which reaches blood. The chemicals present in permanent hair dyes
enter hair, skin and blood and often lead to Lymphocytic Leukemia. New generation
dyes are less harmful but thick dark dyes are still dangerous.
A chemical which adversely affects our skin is P-Phenylenediamide (PPD). Permanent
hair dies have considerable quantity of PPD. Other dangerous chemicals include
ammonia which causes irritation and burning sensation on the skin. Hair dyes shouldn’t
be used during pregnancy. Long term use of a particular hair dyes often leads to allergic
reactions.
-DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU, www.navraj@gmail.com