Horror of hair dye

CASE 1:Horror of hair dye for Charlotte Higgins

PRETTY teen Charlotte Higgins was rushed to hospital "looking like Elephant Woman" after an allergic reaction to hair dye.

BEFORE: Charlotte Higgins

PRETTY teen Charlotte Higgins was rushed to hospital "looking like Elephant Woman" after an allergic reaction to hair dye.

The 13-year-old blonde did a 48-hour allergy test before using Clairol Perfect 10 to go dark brown.

Despite the test showing negative her face blew up like a balloon two days later.

She had trouble breathing because of swelling to her windpipe, her eyes were forced shut and her neck was burned.

Dad Scott, 39, took her to hospital where she was given anti-histamines and steroids to stop the swelling.

When that failed she had to return for more treatment.

Last night she was beginning to return to normal five days after seeing docs.

Lorry driver Scott, of Whitchurch, Bristol, said: "It's an absolute disgrace. My daughter followed the instructions right the way through, yet she still came out looking like Elephant Woman.

"Her nose and forehead grew to five times their normal size. This has left her emotionally scarred."

Mum Michelle, 35, added: "There should be clearer warnings on the packet."

Clairol apologised and urged Charlotte to contact them.

CASE 2: Horror of hair dye for Paula
Paula looking-like-an-alien-after-an-allergic-reaction-to-a-hair-dye

BEFORE: Paula Pratt

A WOMAN had to fight for breath as her face swelled up like an "elephant woman" in a terrifying allergic reaction to hair dye.
Paula Pratt, 38, was rushed to hospital when her head and neck ballooned and her eyelids were forced shut.

She was taken to A&E where doctors treated her with steroids and antihistamine tablets.

Married Paula had used a £5 Clairol Nice 'n Easy kit to turn her greying hair a chocolate brown.

She said she followed the instructions and carried out an allergy test before going ahead.

Paula had no obvious problems when her sister helped apply the dye and she went to work as usual the next day.
But that evening her head, face and neck began swelling. Her eyes closed and her scalp stretched and began to weep.

Paula said: "The swelling started travelling down my throat and it was hard to breathe."
She went on: "I went straight to see my GP.
"When I got there I looked like an alien with one side of my face going out like a rugby ball.

"He took one look at me and sent me straight to A & E. By the time I got there the other side of my face had swelled up too.
"I couldn't see my ears. The swelling must have gone out about three inches on either side. It was terrifying. I looked like the elephant woman."

Paula, a production manager from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, has now recovered and said she would not seek compensation from Clairol.

But she added: "I want to make people aware of the reactions you can get."

A Clairol spokeswoman said: "Allergic reactions are very rare. However, we recommend all consumers conduct a 48-hour test before each use of our colourant products."

CASE 3 :Horror of hair dye for Abigail
BEFORE: Schoolgirl Abigail Colbourne ignored instructions to test hair dye first
Pain ... Abigail struggled to see after her eyes and head swelled

A SCHOOLGIRL was left "looking like an alien" after an extreme allergic reaction to a hair dye.

Abigail Colbourne, 15, dyed her brown locks darker but didn't do a patch test, as advised.

The Clairol dye caused huge swelling. Abigail, of Sydenham, South London, said: "My eyes were glued together, and my head swelled up. It was terrifying."

Docs reduced the swelling but mum Joanna Leech said: "People should be aware of the effects of these dyes."

Clairol said such reactions "are very rare".