From: Nazila Nabilzadeh [mailto:jicapt-afghan1@jica.go.jp]
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 2:12 PM
To: Nazila Nabilzadeh
Subject: Seventeen-year-old girl collapses and dies in agony after suffering extreme reaction while dyeing her hair with friend
Seventeen-year-old girl collapses and dies in agony after suffering extreme reaction while dyeing her hair with friend
- Tabatha McCourt ran screaming from bathroom pulling foils from hair
- 'It was really frightening. She looked just like a rag doll, limp, just lying there'
By Daily Mail Reporter
A teenager died following a violent fit that struck her just 20 minutes after she coloured her hair.
Tabatha McCourt, 17, began pulling at her shoulder-length locks, screaming and vomiting before collapsing in agony at a friend's house.
Medics are investigating the possibility that she had a rare allergic reaction to a chemical in the dye.
Screams: Tabatha McCourt collapsed looking like a 'rag doll' after dyeing her hair
Her best friend Heather Goodhall said they had been enjoying a 'girlie' night watching the X Factor before the tragedy on Saturday.
'Tabatha was always dyeing her hair different colours,' said Heather. 'The dye had only been in around 20 minutes when she got up and went to the bathroom.
More...
'She came back a couple of minutes later, sat down on the seat, and then began frantically pulling the foils from her hair.
'She started shouting, "no, no" and my mum's boyfriend held her and tried to calm her down. It was really scary.
'Her eyes started going all funny and then she just started being sick. She looked just like a rag doll, limp, just lying there.'
Tabatha was taken to Monklands General Hospital, Lanarkshire, following the incident in Airdrie, but she later died.
A tearful Heather added: 'It all seems like it's not real.
'Tabatha was a great friend, so generous and full of life, always hyper and bubbly.
'She had the biggest heart and was a really lovely person.
'We were planning to have a joint 18th birthday party next year. I can't believe she is gone.'
Tabatha lived with her parents Margaret and Peter and sisters Tiffany, 15, and Jasmine, 11.
Her youngest sister posted on Facebook: 'RIP big sister. I know you are gone but you will always be in my heart. Love you so much xx.'
Friends and relatives have piled notes and floral tributes at the family's home in Airdrie.
Police said the death was unexplained and a post-mortem examination would be carried out.
A chemical called p-Phenylenediamine has reportedly been suggested as a possible cause for the sudden reaction.
Emma Meredith, head of scientific research at the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, explained it is used in many dyes that darken hair.
'To have such an immediate and violent reaction to this or any other cosmetic product is exceedingly rare,' she said.
'We don't know if Tabatha had any predisposition to allergies but any kind of reaction would be more likely in that case.
'This is an awful and unfortunate event and our thoughts are with Tabatha's family.'
Miss Meredith urged consumers to check product instructions before use. Many advise doing an allergy test 48 hours before use.
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
View all
I had a similar experience 6 years ago when I was 17. I died my hair black as usual with superdrug's own brand of permanent hair dye and before I'd even finished applying the dye to my hair, my head started to burn and my eyes and tongue started to swell. As I hurriedly washed it off in the shower I watched my whole body swell and red lumps appear all the way down to my feet. I was lucky to survive that anaphylaxic shock yet my doctor had no interest in looking into which chemical in the dye had triggered it, and I was just advised not to dye my hair anymore (and I haven't). It's so upsetting and shocking to hear this has happened and my thoughts are with the family of Tabatha. I assume PPD caused the reaction but so much more research is needed into this to avoid more unneccessary deaths.
- ella, lowestoft, uk, 13/10/2011 21:10
Having had silver hair since childhood, I coloured my hair using the same brand for years. A well known semi permanent colour, testing the product each time. One day while applying it as usual I suddenly had difficulty breathing, my scalp started to burn and hair dropped out in handfuls. I suffered for weeks with asthma type symptoms and a scabbed painful head. Never again! I now have my hair cut regularly into a" funky" style and am often asked what dye I use for my beautiful hair!
No comments:
Post a Comment