Ask Me Help Desk - Possibly allergic to hair dye?

I dyed my hair red using a mix of Manic Panic and Adore, but products I've already used before. I recall it being a bit itchy, but it wasn't a problem. Its been two days after I dyed my hair and I've developed hives. It started with a few small welts that quickly turned into clusters and groups all over my back, stomach, torso, neck, legs, and is slowly moving towards my face(around and under my chin, forehead, and sides of eyes). I'm not really having a problem with breathing and my heart rate seems about normal. I've tried applying some Cora zone-10 to my welts to try and help with the itchy burning feeling, but it hasn't really helped. Some welts have disappeared, but more keep showing up. I had taken a hot shower before I began my research and found out that heat isn't good for hives. I've also tried to cool down by putting ice on some of my welts. I am planning on taken benadryl later on in the day, but I'm not sure if that will help. I don't know what exactly caused the hives. Its been over 48 hours since I dyed my hair, and I don't think I ate anything unusual.

The hair dye I use suggests doing a skin test at least 24 hours before using it every time because it is entirely possible to develop an allergy, even to a product you've used many times. I personally could be a poster child for this "developing an allergy" thing, as I've developed allergies to such stupid things as the glue used on bandaids right up to suddenly having an allergic reaction to shrimp if I eat it too many times in one month (and I adore shrimp)!
Benadryl is an excellent thought, as it will battle the allergic reaction from the inside out and is generally the first thing that my doctor has told me to use whenever I have a reaction to something, but if it doesn't seem to be helping, you probably want to go visit a doctor to get something stronger. If you've had this reaction once, you probably also will want to take Benadryl a couple of days before you dye your hair again - even if you change what you're using to dye it with, as it may be a single ingredient of the dye that is causing this.
I hope this is helpful...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiggerella

The hair dye I use suggests doing a skin test at least 24 hours before using it every time because it is entirely possible to develop an allergy, even to a product you've used many times. I personally could be a poster child for this "developing an allergy" thing, as I've developed allergies to such stupid things as the glue used on bandaids right up to suddenly having an allergic reaction to shrimp if I eat it too many times in one month (and I adore shrimp)!
Benadryl is an excellent thought, as it will battle the allergic reaction from the inside out and is generally the first thing that my doctor has told me to use whenever I have a reaction to something, but if it doesn't seem to be helping, you probably want to go visit a doctor to get something stronger. If you've had this reaction once, you probably also will want to take Benadryl a couple of days before you dye your hair again - even if you change what you're using to dye it with, as it may be a single ingredient of the dye that is causing this.
I hope this is helpful....

Thank you, this was very helpful, but I've developed yet another problem in the last hour or so. Some people suggested that I put ice on my hives or take a cold shower, so I went and took a cool shower. About halfway through, I started getting dizzy. My head was spinning, my ears closed up(like with a stuffy nose), there was a loud ringing in my head, and my throat felt funny. I immediately got out and sat on the floor for a little while, thinking that if I did that, the heaviness in my head would go away. After I felt a tad bit better, I got up and made my way to my room, but as I was doing this, I felt like my eyes were open, but I couldn't see anything. My legs were wobbly and I felt like I was going to vomit. When I got to my bed, I laid down and shut my eyes. I'm not sure how much time had passed, but when I opened them up again, I could see, my head wasn't as dizzy, my throat feels a bit better, and my ears opened up, but there is still a faint ringing sound. But my hives don't bother me anymore. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with anaphylaxis, but I'm still worried. When should I call or go see a doctor?