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A stroll down the hair care aisle in a grocery retailer reveals a dizzying array of hair styling merchandise. The usage of hair merchandise dates again 1000’s of years. Hair coated in fatty animal or plant extracts was discovered on Egyptian mummies. Quick ahead to Victorian Britain the place commercially manufactured merchandise akin to Rowland’s Macassar Oil and Brylcream have been used for styling males’s hair. Trendy merchandise embody hair gels, waxes, pomades, lotions, and mousses.
In keeping with survey analysis, greater than half 1,000,000 individuals within the US spent $500 or extra on hair care merchandise over a 3-month time span. Given their widespread use, unintentional exposures and antagonistic results are sure to occur.
Reading: Can hair mousse cause hair loss
Styling merchandise typically comprise a hair stiffener to maintain hair in place. Examples of stiffeners are oils, petroleum jelly, beeswax, carnauba wax, and xanthan gums. Some hair gels and mousse comprise unstable alcohols akin to SD alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. Much like hairspray, aerosol mousse merchandise can comprise propellants and solvents akin to isobutane and isopropyl alcohol, respectively.
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In keeping with the American Academy of Dermatology, some hair loss and hair harm could be attributable to hair styling, together with using some hair care merchandise. Nonetheless, the hair loss is normally from the styling approach and never the precise product. Hair home equipment and different styling exercise may cause hair loss attributable to breakage alongside the hair shaft or extreme drive that pulls the hair out of the scalp. Alcohol-containing gels and mousses can have a drying impact, which can go away the hair extra susceptible to wreck throughout styling. One of these hair loss is non permanent. Different non permanent hair loss can happen if the product causes dermatitis. There are a number of experiences of gentle dermatitis from hair styling merchandise requiring medical consideration. Hardly ever, extreme dermatitis may cause everlasting hair loss.
Hair styling merchandise usually come into contact with the scalp, however they may additionally come into contact with different areas of the pores and skin. Unintentionally getting some on the pores and skin normally doesn’t trigger any issues, however a number of the elements may cause pores and skin irritation or an itchy rash. These results should not harmful and normally could be managed at house. In some delicate individuals, extreme contact dermatitis can happen and ought to be handled by a medical skilled.
Unintentionally getting a small quantity within the eyes ought to be minimally poisonous, with principally some gentle ache and redness anticipated. Nonetheless, there’s a report of extra critical non permanent damage from repeated publicity to hair gel. A 57-year-old man received perspiration combined along with his hair gel into his eyes when he exercised, inflicting extreme irritation. This occurred over a 4-year interval. The attention downside cleared up after he stopped utilizing the hair gel. Immediate irrigation of all eye exposures ought to restrict toxicity.
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Unintentionally swallowing a small quantity of most hair styling merchandise by an grownup or youngster shouldn’t be harmful. A few of the elements are non-toxic, whereas others trigger solely minor signs akin to irritation of the mouth, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Alcohol-containing gels and mousses may cause inebriation if giant quantities are swallowed, which is unusual with unintentional ingestions.
Inhaling the propellant of aerosol mousses is unusual when utilizing these merchandise as directed. In contrast to hair spray, these merchandise should not sprayed immediately onto the top or anyplace close to the face. Toddlers who unintentionally inhale a small quantity of the propellant might need some minor coughing or problem catching their breath, however this could go away with contemporary air.
For those who suspect somebody has swallowed a hair styling product, have them drink just a few sips of water after which test the onlinePOISONCONTROL® on-line device for assist or name Poison Management at 1-800-222-1222. If the hair product is within the eyes or on the pores and skin, rinse first with room temperature water for quarter-hour then test the net device or name Poison Management for additional steerage. If somebody has inhaled fumes from considered one of these merchandise, they need to instantly get contemporary air then name Poison Management or use the net device.
Karen D. Dominguez, PharmD Licensed Specialist in Poison Info
