This report on a case of dermatoconjunctivitis due to Lash-Lure, a new eyelash and eyebrow dye, is offered for record.
The dangerous possibilities of certain types of hair dye has, of course, been known to the medical profession and to dermatologists in particular for many years. The use of such dyes has, however, been restricted to the scalp hair. Extending their use to the eyelash field is new and a reaction as severe as that which occurred in this patient deserves more than the passing comment ordinarily given by dermatologists to the frequent cutaneous reactions to cosmetics observed by them.
Darkening of the eyebrows and eyelashes is accomplished in two ways: one by coating the hairs (Mascara, lamp-black) and the other by actually staining them. Intolerance of the conjunctiva and eyelids to Mascara is well known but rarely produces more than a very mild reaction—commonly only a pruritus or burning