The Oxidative Stress by Hair Dyeing Changes the Antioxidant Defense Systems and Strongly Relates to the Plasma Vitamin E Concentration

Reactive oxygen species can be generated in the skin by hair dyeing. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of the oxidative-type hair dye application in young women on the antioxidant systems. We investigated the lipid peroxide levels, glutathione (GSH) levels, and the antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in plasma and erythrocytes and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes, and DNA damages in lymphocytes. Also, plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, vitamin A and E, were measured and the correlations between various antioxidant parameters and oxidative damages were evaluated The antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma (GSHPx) and in erythrocytes (SOD and CAT) were decreased significantly after hair dyeing. 1be lipid peroxide and GSH levels were not affected in both plasma and erythrocytes. No significant difference was found in the concentrations of both vitamin A and E between before and after hair dyeing. However, DNA damages expressed as the tail extent moment (TEM) and tail length (TL) were significantly (p<0.001) increased. The plasma vitamin E concentration was correlated with DNA damages (TEM: r=-0.590, p<0.01 and TL: r=-0.533. p<0.01) and RBC SOD activity (r=0.570, p<0.05). In turn, RBC SOD activity was significantly correlated with both plasma MDA levels (r=-0.412, p<0.05) and DNA damages (TM: r=-0.546, p<0.01, TL: r=-0.493, p<0.01). Our results demonstrated that the exposure to hair dyeing produced lymphocyte DNA damage and modification of the antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, there were very strong associations between plasma vitamin E concentration, RBC SOD activity and DNA damage induced by hair dyeing. It suggests that the antioxidant status of a subject is likely to be related to the extent of the harmful effects caused by hair dyeing.