Environmental Health Press Release
Article date: 20/06/2007
Get Your Patch Test
The Forest of Dean District Council issued the following information pack following prosecution of Utopia in Coleford for breaking Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work Act. The salon was fined £2,000 under the Health and Safety at Work Act and ordered to pay Forest of Dean District Council costs of £1,500 as well as an undisclosed settlement figure for failing to patch test after a 15 year old boy suffered an allergy to hair dye in their salon. This is an extract of their issued press release…
…”The schoolboy’s head ballooned in size after he had his hair dyed at Utopia hair salon on 20 December 2005. The 15 year old suffered an extreme allergic reaction after the hair colour was applied. He visited his GP but as the swelling got progressively worse he was later admitted to hospital where he was given steroid cream, liquid paraffin and antibiotics. Over the following weeks his condition made little progress and his rash had spread to his back stomach, arms and hands. On 1 February 2006 he visited a consultant Dermatologist as an out patient but due to the severity of the allergic reaction the consultant admitted the boy to hospital for tests where he remained an inpatient for almost two weeks.
Tests revealed he was allergic to Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is commonly found in hair dye. However to prevent a further reaction it is necessary for the boy to avoid things that include PPD for the rest of his life this includes everyday items such as leathers, textiles and plastics.
Forest of Dean District Council carried out the investigation which showed that the hair dye packaging reveals both on the outside of the box and on the instruction leaflet inside that a patch test should be carried out 48 hours prior to the application each time the hair is coloured to ensure that customers are not sensitive to the ingredients. Failure to carry out the patch test by Utopia led to the boy’s injuries.
“Since the incident Utopia has introduced patch testing for all clients who have their hair dyed but all hairdressers should be doing this.“ says Roger Garbett, Environmental Health Manager Forest of Dean District Council.
“As consumers you should always ask your hairdresser to give you a precautionary skin test to check for allergic reactions two days before your main appointment and this needs to happen every time your hair is coloured. People think if they have been using hair dye for some time without a problem, that will always be the case but you can become sensitised at any point. If you experience any reaction during the 48 hours before you plan to dye your hair, you shouldn’t proceed or you may experience allergic reactions ranging from extreme itching, burning, skin blisters, facial and neck swelling and in rarer cases, breathing difficulties that require medical treatment.
Over the next few months Environmental Health Officers will be carrying out unannounced visits to hairdressers to check that they are carrying out patch tests to ensure this type of injury does not happen again”.