Potential allergic reactions to hair dyes, nail products, and tattoos
For some teens, they may experience an allergic reaction when they try hair dye, nail products, or tattoos for the first time. Here's what you need to know.
Nowadays, teenagers do a lot of interesting things. They get tattoos and piercings, they dye their hair and experiment with fake nails – sometimes much to the chagrin of their parents. Of course, these proclivities are not limited to teens, as many adults engage in these activities of individual self-expression as well. But as the prevalence of these art forms increases, so do the adverse effects. Most people do not even think of possible side effects, but they do occur in a small percentage of cases.
Tattoos are permanent markings on skin which may occur unintentionally or intentionally, for medical or cosmetic reasons. Tattoos have been around since ancient times, but their use for cosmetic reasons has increased significantly in the past few decades. Many people, young and old, acquire tattoos as a means of self-expression, to the point that it has become a common "fashion accessory". It is estimated that up to 24 percent of the population in the United States has a tattoo, and the age at which an individual acquires his or her first tattoo has also decreased to the 16 -20 year old range.
The word tattoo actually comes from the Tahitian word "ta-tau", meaning a form of tapping. While tattoos are generally safe, there remains the possibility of serious side effects. Probably the most common side effects are infections and delayed hypersensitivity reactions, or contact dermatitis. Complications from tattoos occur in approximately 2 percent of cases, but the actual figure may be higher as some cases go unreported. Infections usually result from a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus, which colonizes normal skin and can be introduced through trauma, as in a needle-based procedure. With the rise of community acquired methicillin resistant Staph aureus, or MRSA for short, those who get tattoos should be careful that they get them from a licensed and regulated practitioner, who uses clean and sterile technique. If you do start to have any complications at any time after obtaining a tattoo, consult your physician.
Piercings and nails can both cause a contact dermatitis, though the culprit may be different. Most people wear metallic jewelry in conjunction with their piercings, and nickel is one of the more common allergens that can cause contact dermatitis. Those who are sensitized may develop a weeping, blistery, red and hot rash around the site of contact, as in the earlobe with earrings, the neckline with necklaces and the wrist with bracelets or wristwatches (though I have found that young people use their cell phones and don't usually wear watches). If you are allergic to nickel, then the best course of action is to avoid contact. This may be difficult because nickel is present in many alloys including "less than 24K" gold jewelry. With regard to nails, contact dermatitis can occur as a result of exposure to acrylates, a component of artificial nails. Rashes can appear on the face and eyes as a result of touching these areas with the artificial nails.
Finally, it is important to recognize that hair products can also cause a contact dermatitis. Recently, I saw a young teenager who developed a case of contact dermatitis on her scalp and around her eyes. The itchiness and rash occurred a day after she dyed her hair brown. It turns out that a component of a majority of hair dyes on the market, paraphenylenediamine or PPD for short, is a known sensitizer in patients with contact dermatitis. This is increasingly a problem as more and more teens and young adults (and others as well) dye their hair all sorts of colors, from blonde to brown or black, not to mention creative colorings like Neon pink, Napalm orange, or Electric Blue. The advantage that hair dyes have over tattoos is that at least they are not permanent. However, if you do experience a contact dermatitis as a result of a hair dye, consult your allergist or physician as a short course of antihistamines or oral steroids may be indicated.
It should be noted that henna, another form of skin art, is also non-permanent. While generally thought to be safe, there have been case reports of serious reactions to henna as well.
While allergic reactions aren't common with these forms of self-expression, it's good to know that they can occur and be avoided.
Have a question for the Healthy Kids panel? Ask it here. Read more from the Healthy Kids blog »