Well, I finally had an allergic reaction to Wella Koleston hair color. This is a Toluene-Diamine Sulfate based color. The industry claimed it should have reduced my chances of developing an allergy. Apparently this is just as I had expected. The whole purpose of the industry wide move to TDS was because it was safer, and there were going to be less reactions. There were going to be less cross reactions. I found information that said 3%, up to 30% would cross react with TDS. I now know it is closer to 60 to 90%, in my experience, depending on the severity of the allergy.
I colored my hair on a Wednesday afternoon, in between clients. I took Benadryl that night because I could not sleep. Late morning, the next day my forehead and the sides of my face itched. (None of my clients said a WORD!) After a few hours more, I finally looked closer in the mirror, and I noticed I had small blisters all over! When I went home for the evening, I took Zyrtec, Benadryl, and smeared it with a drying cream. Friday it seemed less itchy. Saturday morning, BLISTERS! Back on the Zyrtec and Benadryl! I am still taking the Zyrtec, and it seems fine now, but I am going to take it for a few weeks to be sure. I am also drinking lemon water to cleanse my system. I was very lucky to have a friend of mine remind me that I was having a PTD reaction, and to take some allergy meds, or I would have been even MORE blistered. Sometimes, I am so busy giving out advice, I forget to take it myself! (Thanks Kristi!!)
-and about that television. The Doctors, a TV show that often has information in quick small bits that people actually remember, finally had a PPD bit on a teen and his mom who is a hairdresser. The teen wanted his hair colored, and didn't do a patch test. He took photos of his reaction, and they showed them. The clip was a bit misleading, as it did not explain that you have to be exposed to PPD once before you can react, and did not explain that you can react the second time or the thousandth time. It mentioned to go to the FDA web sight to fill out the form if you have had a reaction. It did not mention anything about the miss-diagnosis problems, or the lack of doctors who know about this, or can treat this problem. It did not mention that there are multiple ways that you can react, or that there is a T.R.U.E. test that is safe, and can help. If you have had a problem finding a hairdresser who can help, contact me. If you have had a problem finding a doctor who can help, contact me. I will do my best to get you information that can help.
Gina xx
EDIT - The photo journal of the teen that was on The Doctors is on this blog. Just look for PPD and Teen. That's him. :)
I colored my hair on a Wednesday afternoon, in between clients. I took Benadryl that night because I could not sleep. Late morning, the next day my forehead and the sides of my face itched. (None of my clients said a WORD!) After a few hours more, I finally looked closer in the mirror, and I noticed I had small blisters all over! When I went home for the evening, I took Zyrtec, Benadryl, and smeared it with a drying cream. Friday it seemed less itchy. Saturday morning, BLISTERS! Back on the Zyrtec and Benadryl! I am still taking the Zyrtec, and it seems fine now, but I am going to take it for a few weeks to be sure. I am also drinking lemon water to cleanse my system. I was very lucky to have a friend of mine remind me that I was having a PTD reaction, and to take some allergy meds, or I would have been even MORE blistered. Sometimes, I am so busy giving out advice, I forget to take it myself! (Thanks Kristi!!)
-and about that television. The Doctors, a TV show that often has information in quick small bits that people actually remember, finally had a PPD bit on a teen and his mom who is a hairdresser. The teen wanted his hair colored, and didn't do a patch test. He took photos of his reaction, and they showed them. The clip was a bit misleading, as it did not explain that you have to be exposed to PPD once before you can react, and did not explain that you can react the second time or the thousandth time. It mentioned to go to the FDA web sight to fill out the form if you have had a reaction. It did not mention anything about the miss-diagnosis problems, or the lack of doctors who know about this, or can treat this problem. It did not mention that there are multiple ways that you can react, or that there is a T.R.U.E. test that is safe, and can help. If you have had a problem finding a hairdresser who can help, contact me. If you have had a problem finding a doctor who can help, contact me. I will do my best to get you information that can help.
Gina xx
EDIT - The photo journal of the teen that was on The Doctors is on this blog. Just look for PPD and Teen. That's him. :)
