[Bronchial asthma in a hairdresser caused by hair bleach]

Three years after starting to work as a hairdresser a 33-year-old woman developed urticaria on contact with hairbleach. After a further four years rhinoconjunctivitis set in and later also bronchial asthma on contact with such bleaches. Extensive tests revealed hypersensitivity to widely used persulphate-containing bleaching liquids which ultimately forced the patient to give up her profession. The causative role of this group of chemicals was proven by positive skin tests and specific workplace-related provocation tests. But specific IgE antibodies could not be demonstrated. The findings suggest a pseudoallergic reaction.