Hair dye, a common beauty staple for many, may pose a more serious risk than previously thought. A recent French study has uncovered a potential link between the aromatic amines found in certain hair dyes and the development of retinopathy, a condition affecting the eyes.
Nicolas Chirpaz, MD, from the Ophthalmology Department at Edouard Herriot Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France, and his team reported their findings in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study described three women who experienced multiple bilateral serous retinal detachments (SRDs) after using hair dyes containing these aromatic amines.
The condition, dubbed Retinopathy Associated with Hair Dye Aromatic Amines (RAHDAA), mimics the symptoms of MEK inhibitor-associated retinopathy, a side effect of certain cancer drugs. Both types of retinopathy involve the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MEK) pathway in the body.
Notably, the retinopathy resolved in all three women after they stopped using hair dye.
Representational Case
One particularly compelling case involved a 61-year-old woman who experienced blurred vision in both eyes a few days after using a hair dye containing para-phenylenediamine, a common aromatic amine.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging revealed multiple SRDs in both of her eyes, predominantly located in the posterior pole. The choroidal thickness through the fovea was notably 250 μm, further supporting the diagnosis of RAHDAA.
Remarkably, four months later, the SRDs had completely resolved in this patient, and her vision returned to normal. Four years after the initial incident, the patient reported using hair dyes free from aromatic amines and has not experienced a recurrence of retinitipatha.
“RAHDAA presumably is a rare condition.
Its presentation closely resembles MEK inhibitor-associated retinopathy. It should be considered a diagnosis of exclusion after other potential diagnoses including central serous chorioretinopathy have been ruled out.
‘ added the research team.
References
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Chirpaz N, Bricout M, Elbany S, et al. Retinopathy associated with hair dye. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142:1094-1096; doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.3453
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Faure C, Salamé N, Cahuzac A, Mauget-Faÿsse M, Scemama C. Hair dye-induced retinopathy mimicking MEK-inhibitor retinopathy. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2022;16:329-332; doi:10.1097/ICB.0000000000000969
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Murata C, Murakami Y, Fukui T, et al. Serous retinal detachment without leakage on fluorescein/indocyanine angiography in MEK inhibitor-associated retinopathy. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2022;13:542-549; doi:10.1159/000524558
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Méndez-Martínez S, Calvo P, Ruiz-Moreno O, et al. Ocular adverse events associated with MEK inhibitors. Retina. 2019;39:1435-1450; doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000002451
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Duncan KE, Chang LY, Patronas M. MEK inhibitors: a new class of chemotherapeutic agents with ocular toxicity. Eye (Lond). 2015;29:1003-1012; doi:10.1038/eye.2015.82
Are you concerned about the potential risks of hair dye? Consult with your doctor or ophthalmologist to discuss your individual risk factors and make informed choices about hair care products.