Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Hair Dyes? Is Hair Dyes safe for nursing mother and child? Does Hair Dyes extracts into breast milk? Does Hair Dyes has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Hair Dyes influence milk supply or can Hair Dyes decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Hair Dyes lactation summary

Hair Dyes usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Hair Dyes is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Hair Dyes may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Hair Dyes may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Hair Dyes low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Hair Dyes We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Hair Dyes usage in lactation

Widely used products by many cultures and civilizations. Some of their components can be absorbed and reach the mother's plasma and the breast milk. Natural components (lower risk) are: Henna, Saffron, Chamomile and nut among others. Synthetic components are: aniline and other benzene derivatives, heavy metals like lead). In last decade, a bulky amount of products in use have been withdrawn from the market since they were considered to be toxic for the organism. Controversy still exist on the safety of existing products, while some authorities consider them to be safe, a study dated on 2013 has linked them to the appearance of childhood leukemia when used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is recommended a limited use, to follow advice appearing with the product, a shower after dye to keep clean the breast area and wearing short hair to minimize absorption of potentially toxic products. Mothers working at hair dressing facilities should observed all preventive measures (wearing gloves, working-time restriction, etc)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.