Summary
- A man named Ryan Briggs had a severe allergic reaction to black hair dye that caused his head to inflate like a ‘balloon’
- The reaction spread to his face, causing disfiguration and preventing him from opening one of his eyes
- Doctors gave him 25 tablets a day for five days to control the swelling
- Mr. Briggs did not do a patch test before applying the hair dye, leading to the severe reaction
- The NHS warns people to always do a patch test before using hair dye containing paraphenylenediamine to avoid allergic reactions.
A man from Blackburn, Lancashire, experienced a horrifying allergic reaction to black hair dye that caused his head to swell up significantly, resembling the cartoon character ‘Megamind’. Ryan Briggs, 27, initially applied the dye without doing a patch test and woke up with a rash which eventually escalated into extreme swelling of his entire head and face. Despite receiving medical treatment, including 25 daily tablets over five days, he was left with scabs on his scalp but thankfully the swelling eventually subsided.
Briggs’s ordeal serves as a cautionary tale for others thinking of coloring their hair, as he advises always doing a patch test before using any hair dye, even if it is a familiar brand. The chemical paraphenylenediamine, commonly found in hair dyes, caused his severe reaction and serves as a known irritant and allergen. The NHS also urges individuals to be cautious and conduct a patch test before using dark hair dyes, as they typically contain higher levels of this potentially harmful chemical. This incident highlights the importance of taking precautions and ensuring safety when using hair products to prevent potentially dangerous allergic reactions.
Source link
Dermatology, Allergy & Clinical Immunology