Background: Hair dyes are widely used in daily life. However, data on the proportion of self-reported adverse skin reactions is scarce.
Objectives: To estimate the proportion of hair dye use in lifetime and self-reported adverse skin reactions in the Dutch general population. To investigate the association between hair dye use and black henna tattoo use, its adverse skin reactions, patch testing, hand eczema, and profession as hairdresser or beautician.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used questionnaire-derived data from the population-based Lifelines cohort. Self-reported data were collected regarding hair dye use in lifetime, adverse skin reactions, black henna tattoo use in lifetime, patch testing, lifetime hand eczema and profession as hairdresser or beautician. We conducted logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between hair dye use and above-mentioned factors.
Results: In total, 70,987 participants were included. The proportion of hair dye use was 63.1%, of which 6.8% experienced an adverse skin reaction, mostly self-reported mild (77.7%). Positive significant (p<0.05) associations were identified between hair dye use and female sex, middle-age, black henna tattoo use, (positive) patch testing results, and a profession as hairdresser or beautician.
Conclusions: Hair dye use is common in the Dutch general population and frequently causes adverse skin reactions.
Keywords (3-8): Hair dye, hair colorant, skin reaction, contact allergy, black henna tattoo, general population