A 20-year-old woman from Hangzhou, China, developed purple spots on her body and kidney inflammation after two years of monthly hair bleaching and dyeing.
Doctors eventually advised her to shave her head to support treatment.
Monthly Dyeing Routine Led to Health Crisis
Two years ago, the woman began bleaching and dyeing her hair every month in pursuit of vibrant celebrity-inspired colours. She frequently touched up her roots and changed her hair colour with each session.
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To achieve lighter shades, she sometimes bleached her hair up to three times in one sitting. Last month, she used a new purple hair dye. Three days later, purple spots appeared on her legs. She initially dismissed them as mosquito bites.
Within a week, the spots spread across her body. She also experienced stomach pain, joint swelling, and dark, coffee-coloured urine.
Diagnosis: Purpura Nephritis Triggered by Allergy
Alarmed by the symptoms, she sought medical attention. Tests revealed high levels of protein in her urine and signs of kidney damage.
Doctors diagnosed her with purpura nephritis, a kidney condition caused by allergic purpura. The reaction occurs when immune complexes build up in the kidneys, leading to inflammation. The purple dye she had used was identified as a strong allergen.
Doctors told her that treatment would only be effective if she shaved off all her hair. The recommendation left her devastated, but she eventually agreed after encouragement from her family and medical team.
Condition Improves After Treatment
Following four weeks of treatment, the purple spots faded and her urine protein levels improved. She was discharged from the hospital with instructions to avoid all hair dyes in future.
Doctors also advised her to undergo monthly check-ups and urine tests to monitor her recovery.
Beyond skin and scalp irritation, repeated exposure to chemical hair treatments increases the risk of hair thinning, chronic dermatitis, and even serious health conditions like acute kidney injury or hormone disruption.
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