[Ingredients of modern hair dyes].

Abstract

70 substances currently used in colouring human hair are reviewed from chemical and structural perspectives. On the basis of structural simularities the question of relationships to known contact allergens, in particular p-phenylendiamine and benzochinones, is examined. Hereby it may be discerned that despite the relatively large number of new substances, the dangers of new potent allergens or cross-reactions with widely encountered existing agents are limited.