Hair dye: An emerging suicidal agent

Abstract

The use of hair dyes can be traced back at least 4000 years. Today, millions of consumers use hair dyes. The main content of hair dye is para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a derivative of paranitroaniline. Hair dyes are commonly available at any general store. However, toxicity with this compound, although previously reported, is not very frequent. Under-recognition of this form of poisoning in the medical community may be a cause for this. We report a case of PPD poisoning with the characteristic features of angioneurotic edema, rhabdomyolysis, intravascular hemolysis, acute tubular necrosis. Management is only supportive, and helpful only if instituted early; a little delay spells imminent death for the unfortunate victim. Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion, as the clinical features are quite distinctive.