Wait Before You Touch That Dye
Your child may have been begging you to allow a change in his or her hair color. You may have been thinking about relenting to your offspring’s wishes. While it may sound like just a few streaks of funky shades, experts recommend waiting until after puberty to allow children to dye their hair. The chief concern is hair, scalp, and general health rather than thoughts about giving in to a request for a dramatic change.
A Chemical Reaction
People have been coloring their hair for thousands of years using plants and minerals and even chemicals like vinegar. Many have been involved in this chemical reaction at home or using a professional for help. Using chemicals to change hair color involves using bleaching agents to remove existing color and applying new hair color. In other words, it is a two-step process. Although hair dye is a ubiquitous product, dyeing children and young teen’s hair is a process that requires serious thought beforehand.
Young Skin/Hair and Risks
Children have finer hair than adults. Hair dye and bleach can damage immature hair that is already more susceptible to damage. In addition, young skin and hair are more sensitive and likely to have reactions that may not have been discovered before attempting to change hair color.
Potential Health Effects
Hair dyes commonly use a chemical substance called Para-phenylenediamine (PPD). PPD is known to cause skin reactions, worsening of asthma, and, on some occasions, causing systemic illnesses that may affect the entire body. Many young people and adults have had allergic reactions to the chemicals in hair dye. People can have allergic reactions to chemicals all the time just as they can have allergic reactions to foods. It is important to note that darker shades of dyes have higher concentrations of PPD and are riskier. Whether or not a dye is permanent, PPD is present in hair dye and can cause adverse reactions.
Dyeing hair involves the hair, scalp, and airways. Harsh chemicals can cause terrible reactions and alter the hair texture. In turn, the entire appearance of hair can be changed for the worse. Some of the reactions that hair dye can cause include itchy skin, red skin rash; swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet; feeling lightheaded or faint; swelling of mouth, throat or tongue, which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties; wheezing, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, collapsing, or even losing consciousness.
Assess the Risks
Doctors claim that vegetable-based hair dyes offer a better alternative and are increasingly available. However, even natural hair dye may still contain PPD and expose people to potential risk. In England, hairdressers aren’t allowed to apply hair color products to anyone under the age of 16. Many hair dye kits in the US also have age limit of 16. For safety and peace of mind, shouldn’t tweens wait before dyeing their hair? As for young teens, shouldn’t they consult their pediatrician to fully understand the risk factors before plunging into hair dyeing?
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
What is the purpose of the section titled Potential Health Effects?
Responses
A to inform about the serious health risks that can be results of hair dyes
B to emphasize the harmful nature of darker shades of hair dyes
C to present the best alternatives to hair dye to avoid the health risks
D to question the market availability and use of hair dyes while they pose risks
Question 2
Part B
Which sentence from the section supports the answer in Part A?
Responses
A "Dyeing hair involves the hair, scalp, and airways."
B "In turn, the entire appearance of hair can be changed for the worse."
C "Hair dyes commonly use a chemical substance called Para-phenylenediamine (PPD)."
D “Some of the reactions that hair dye can cause include itchy skin, red skin rash; swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet; […] even losing consciousness."
Part A: The purpose of the section titled Potential Health Effects is to inform about the serious health risks that can result from hair dyes.
Part B: The sentence that supports the answer in Part A is: "Some of the reactions that hair dye can cause include itchy skin, red skin rash; swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet; feeling lightheaded or faint; swelling of mouth, throat or tongue, which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties; wheezing, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, collapsing, or even losing consciousness."