What is PPD in hair dye?

Para-phenylenediamine is the principal permanent hair-dye allergen.

The principal permanent hair-dye allergen. It cross-reacts with several other para-amino compounds, including some local anaesthetics and azo textile dyes.

Ingredients in this family (6)

M-AMINOPHENOL
N,N-BIS(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE SULFATE
P-AMINOPHENOL
P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE
PHENYLENEDIAMINE
TOLUENE-2,5-DIAMINE

Evidence

Source:: European baseline series; Thyssen JP et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;59(6):327-43
Member list is:: complete for this family
What this does not establish:: Whether you personally react. Contact allergy is confirmed by patch testing, not by an ingredient list.
Last reviewed:: 2026-09-26

Information, not medical advice. A suspected contact allergy should be confirmed by a dermatologist through patch testing.

What is PPD in hair dye?

Para-phenylenediamine is the principal permanent hair-dye allergen.

The principal permanent hair-dye allergen. It cross-reacts with several other para-amino compounds, including some local anaesthetics and azo textile dyes.

Ingredients in this family (6)

M-AMINOPHENOL
N,N-BIS(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE SULFATE
P-AMINOPHENOL
P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE
PHENYLENEDIAMINE
TOLUENE-2,5-DIAMINE

Evidence

Source:: European baseline series; Thyssen JP et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;59(6):327-43
Member list is:: complete for this family
What this does not establish:: Whether you personally react. Contact allergy is confirmed by patch testing, not by an ingredient list.
Last reviewed:: 2026-09-26

Information, not medical advice. A suspected contact allergy should be confirmed by a dermatologist through patch testing.