Can hair extensions lead to heavy metal poisoning?

Lucifer actress Tricia Helfer recently opened up about recovering from metal poisoning, which she got after using hair extensions. The actress revealed that in 2018, she used metal clip-in extensions for the first time for a movie. Two months after installing them, her scalp started to feel tender and sore. “I would lay in bed and just press on my head because my scalp was hurting… I would wake up and feel like my skin under my eyes looked a little sunburnt,” she said to People magazine.
“There are different types of hair extensions, but the ones that I had, they were just coated.And over time, you swim, you sauna, you work out, you brush your hair, you wash your hair, and the coating wears off. And then metal was just seeping into my scalp and killing the hair and, unfortunately giving me metal poisoning. I think it’s something that is important for people to know or think about if they are using those types of clips in their hair. Because those types of extensions are meant to stay in for three or four months at a time. And that’s when the damage can happen,” she shared with the magazine.

DECODING METAL POISONING
Metal poisoning is a health condition caused by the accumulation of toxic heavy metals, like lead, mercury, or arsenic, in the body due to exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. It can lead to various symptoms and potential health consequences. Metal poisoning in the context of hair extensions refers to the potentially serious health risks associated with extensions that contain heavy metals. Some lowquality or counterfeit hair extensions may be manufactured using substandard materials that contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium or chromium. When these extensions come into direct contact with the scalp and skin, there is a risk of these metals being absorbed into the body, potentially leading to metal poisoning over time
— Dr Navya Handa, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist and Laser surgeon, Primus Super Speciality Hospital

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE USING HAIR EXTENSIONS
- Your scalp should be healthy before you go for extensions
- If you have any disease, any scalp issues, do not get extensions
- If your scalp is healthy and you decide to go for extensions then keep your scalp clean. Wash it regularly, depending on how oily your scalp is. Washing your hair right up to the roots is very important
- Try to dry it up as early as possible after washing
- If you’re colouring your hair, avoid going closer to the clips because chemical reactions can bother them further
- Don’t use them for more than two or three months. After removal, give a break of threefour months for your scalp and hair to recover
— Dr Seema Oberoi Lall