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Hazards of Red Dye in Clothes

Q: Do you have any information about the hazards of red dye in clothes? I love red and over the past year I purchased two red blouses and a red turtleneck from a middle-market women's store under their own label. Even though I have washed the garments several times, they continue to bleed red dye onto my bras. The worse thing is that I got a rash under my arms from wearing the red turtleneck. Are these red dyes a health threat? Should I start wearing blue?


A: It sounds like you may be experiencing "textile dye dermatitis" -- an allergic reaction to the dye, or possibly to the resin used in finishing the fabric. Such irritations are generally worse in spots where there's perspiration and the fabric rubs against your skin.

Allergic reactions to dyes are highly individual and relatively rare, though some dermatologists think they may be underreported. The most common reactions have been to "dispersal" dyes, a form that tends to rub off easily and is frequently used on polyester and other synthetic fabrics. Blue isn't necessarily safer. In fact, more allergic reactions have been reported with blue dyes than red -- particularly Disperse Blue 106 and 124. A 1995 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology noted that a variety of other blues, browns, yellows, reds and oranges had been known to cause skin sensitivity as well, including Basic Red 46, Supramine Red and Neutrichrome Red.

There are more than 1,000 different dye pigments, and it's generally impossible to know what dyes are used in the clothing you purchase. But if you are sensitive to one you may be sensitive to others as well. Allergy experts say you can reduce the likelihood of skin irritations if you stick with natural fibers rather than synthetics. If you do encounter a skin irritation, try an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or see a dermatologist.

Q: Reading about the Alice in Wonderland syndrome in your Dec. 30 column and Feb. 3 follow-up reminded me of another syndrome. I call it "empathetic pain," but it may have another official name. When I see, hear about, or even think about someone else suffering a graphic pain-inducing situation, I feel a sharp, deep, stab of pain in a specific part of my body. This has happened since I was a young child. I'm able to control my attention and focus now, and avoid situations in which I would have to think of someone being injured or suffering pain, so it happens much less often than it used to. Are there any medical/psychological studies on this phenomenon?


A: With the help of functional MRIs that can see activity in various parts of the brain, scientists are learning more about how the brain perceives pain -- and they are increasing seeing that imagination, emotion and empathy all play roles. In a study published in the journal Science in 2004, researchers at University College in London worked with 19 couples and gave each of the women, then each of their partners, a mild electrical shock, while monitoring their brains. The same area of their brains registered activity whether they felt the actual shock or their partners did. Researchers studying monkeys have discovered "mirror neurons" that fire when one watches another perform an action as well as when they perform it themselves.

Children appear to have a stronger empathetic reaction to pain than grown-ups do, and some people seem to be unusually sensitive or insensitive to pain in others. Brain-scan studies at the University of Chicago showed that when highly aggressive youths watched videos of pain being inflicted on other people, there was activity in an area of their brains usually associated with pleasure and reward. Studies of nurses have shown that those who empathize with patients' pain are better able to assist with pain medication, although they are also more vulnerable to psychological trauma.

This is still a largely uncharted area. It sounds like you're at the far end of the spectrum of people who "feel the pain" of others. Since you are so aware of it, you're in a good position to observe the phenomenon yourself. The next time it happens, try seeing if you can break the connection by focusing on something else.

Write to Melinda Beck at

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