Bielle says her eyes hurt after using a styling product and she couldn’t see for days; Anvisa has already banned more than 10 products of different brands.
Bielle digital influencer Elizabeth, 29, says she used pomades to style her hair, until her eyes were badly injured by a product she decided to test.
“I have ‘4C’ curly hair (curling table category) and these pomades help set and style my hair, bringing out the natural beauty of the hair. I had never heard of any cases of temporary blindness from these products until it was happened to me. I found out, the hard way, that they can be dangerous,” she says, who has used pomades to create hairstyles like braids and style “baby hair” (shorter, thinner strands that arise in the hairline around to the face). .
When the episode happened, in early January, Bielle was wearing a nagô braid hairstyle, which divides the strands of the scalp into several braids, which she did to participate in an event to which she had been invited as an influencer.
She says that, while filming parts of the event, she sweated and got in some rain, which caused the shaping pomade to run down her face.
“At one point, with my eyes already burning, I sat in a covered place with a friend and realized that I couldn’t see. I asked her to come to the bathroom with me and, when I entered, with the brightest light due to the dark environment of the event, everything was blurry.I washed it with a lot of water, but the pain only increased.
Accompanied by her friend, she sought help at the event clinic. The doctors on duty advised her to go to the emergency room immediately.
“Until I got to the hospital, I didn’t think it could be the ointment. The doctor who attended me said that she has already seen more than 100 cases caused by different brands. As the hours went by, I could not open the my eyes more because of so much pain, he was desperate.”
Bielle says he spent about R $ 400 on ointments and eye drops. And she says she regained her sight little by little: after two weeks she was able to see perfectly.
“It has been a very difficult time, I depend on my vision for everything, it is directly related to my work. I have had panic attacks and although I am grateful to have friends to help me, the feeling of being totally dependent is bad” .
“Now, I no longer intend to use any pomades and I’m appealing to people who like to do hairdos to be aware of the products they’re using.”
While it’s not common for consumers to pay heed to product regulation, Dr. Violeta Tortelly, of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology’s (SBD) Hair and Nails Department Coordination, believes caution should be exercised when trying out new brands.
“Hair cosmetics have appeared more and more and internet sales have meant that many small businesses or housewives have managed to produce and sell their own products. If it is interesting from an economic point of view to give opportunities for small producers, there is it is a huge danger due to the failure to guarantee the safety of the product Anvisa Registration [Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária] It’s important, because it signals to us that that cosmetic doesn’t have a substance with a potential risk of irritation or even a risk of cancer.”
It is possible to verify the registration of this type of product with Anvisa via the website, by accessing the “Cosmetics” tab and searching by keywords (such as the name of the product) in the “notified products” and “regulated products” fields.
Possible toxic components in modeling ointments
“Some hair products may have, in varying concentrations, propylene glycol, which is an alcohol with abrasive power and the ability to damage the surface of the eye, the cornea, reversibly or even cause permanent blindness. And they may also have other substances that enhance these effects. We emphasize that you should not use any eye drops or substances even for the eyes in these cases before medical treatment,” warns Tortelly.
Looking at the label of these ointments, some even advise, in small letters, that they cannot be in contact with the eye and should not be used by the sea or in the swimming pool. “Small letters sometimes hide recommendations or components in a way that makes it difficult to read even for us, dermatologists or health professionals from other areas,” assesses Katleen da Cruz Conceição, head of the dermatological clinic for black skin in Santa Casa da Misericordia of Rio de Janeiro.
The product used by Bielle is registered with Anvisa
The product that Bielle claims to have used, the “Feirão dos Cabelos” styling ointment, has been withdrawn from the market by the brand itself until new tests are completed. First, however, it was subjected to analysis by Anvisa, and received the necessary “notification” to be marketed.
Products for personal hygiene, cosmetics and perfumes are subject to two types of regularization procedure by the Agency: by registration or by notification.
Products such as tanning creams, hair straighteners and dyes, sunscreens and repellents must be registered with Anvisa due to their higher degree of risk. In these cases, the agency performs a prior analysis of all submitted documentation supporting the manufacture of the product.
Products such as pomades for braiding and styling hair, which are considered “simpler”, are covered by the notification procedure.
“In this model, which considers products with a lower degree of risk, analysis is renounced before manufacture, import or exposure to the use of the applicable standards,” the agency explained to BBC News Brasil, through the press office.
Anvisa completes by saying that it carries out continuous verification of the notified products, through sampling, also considering complaints and specific control programmes.
BBC News Brasil asked the brand for a position on the case and the list of components used in the production of the ointment. Requests have been accepted.
The ointment contains propylene glycol, although it is not specified in what concentration. Among the other components, read by dermatologist Katleen da Cruz Conceição at the request of the report, according to her, no other harmful substances were identified.
“Reaffirming our commitment to the safety and health of our customers, we have preventively withdrawn the product from sale until the results of the ongoing tests by the Health Surveillance conducted by Fiocruz are presented. All internal measures have been strengthened to increase safety, which has been a company tradition on the market for over 35 years.”
The note also reads that the brand was unable to contact the influencer, did not have access to the medical records and that it considered the judgment regarding the product to be hasty.
Products Prohibited by Anvisa
Anvisa told the report that it remains vigilant and has been monitoring products in this category, taking necessary actions when irregularities are found.
“The complaints received by the Agency are under investigation. In any case, the measures to be taken depend on the risk involved and can vary from the precautionary interdiction, to the prohibition or suspension of manufacturing, marketing, use and even seizure or withdrawal of the product The scope of the inspection actions taken by Anvisa can be better understood here”, specified the Agency.
Below, check out the products already banned by the agency:
- Cassu Braids pomade, by Cassulinha Hair;
- Seax Professional Bright Styling Pomade 85 g;Seax Professional Fiber Gum Styling Pomade 85 g;Seax Professional Matte Styling Pomade 85 g;
- Maxidil Opaque Black White Modeling Ointment and Maxidil Black White Modeling Ointment;
- Emejê ointment, from the Maberu brand;
- Modeling Pomade for Be Black Anti-Frizz Braids;
- Pomade for braids, of the Ômegafix brand;
- Black Ointment – Hair Essence;
- Modeling Ointment for Boxbraids Braids (fixed smooth);
- Braids Hair ointment;
- Ointment Braids Mighty Braids Magic Sponge;
- Rosa Hair – Modeling Ointment – Mega Fixing 150g;
- Master Fix Black Ser Mulher modeling ointment;
Guidelines on the use of hair ointments
When you experience burning eyes after using a hair product, the first step should be to wash the area thoroughly, avoiding more pomade getting into the eyes, and with plenty of water, to try to remove as much of it as possible. according to the specialists.
So, says dermatologist Katleen Cruz da Conceição, seek emergency room immediately.
If the burning is on the scalp, Conceição recommends washing your head by tilting it back, being very careful not to get the product into your eyes.
“Unfortunately, Bielle had a serious case of temporary blindness, but this episode, which you made public, is extremely important for people to be aware of the risks and for dermatologists to become aware of this type of reaction,” says Conceição.
Anvisa also indicates recommendations for use. Among these are:
- Always comply with the manufacturer’s/importer’s instructions regarding the conditions of use of the products, paying particular attention to the warnings for use on the packaging and/or label.
- Use the product only during the expiration date indicated on the package/label by the manufacturer/importer.
- Do not use a product that shows changes in, for example, colour, smell and texture/texture.
- Consumers using hair braiding/styling products should avoid swimming in pools and oceans. When washing your hair, carefully protect your eyes, thus avoiding contact between the product and that part of the body.
It is important to remember that although it is contraindicated for the product to come into contact with the eyes (as is the case with shampoos, which can cause burns), temporary blindness is not an expected adverse effect of the products.
Furthermore, the guidance is that any case of undesirable effect with the use of cosmetics must be notified to Anvisa – there is a channel for consumers and another for health professionals -, since it is through complaints that the agency investigates on products potentially harmful to health.
-This text was published in https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-64351620
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
