Abstract

Hair dye is an emulsion based cosmetic agent commonly used in India as an intentional, accidental and homicidal cause of poisoning having deleterious effects with multisystem involvement. The main objective of the study is to review effects of hair dye poisoning .the common clinical manifestations are air way obstruction with severe edema of face, neck, pharynx and larynx following respiratory distress. The urine turns to chocolate brown color due to methemoglobinemia, rhabdomyloysis, and acute tubular necrosis. If this proceed further it may lead to fatal complications such as arrhythmias and intravascular haemolysis. Most common cause of death is air way obstruction if not relieved by intubation. No specific antidote is available till today, but symptomatic treatment can be given with continuous monitoring.