Percutaneous Absorption and Elimination of an Aromatic Hair Dye

Abstract

The absorption, excretion, and metabolic fate of a water-soluble, small molecular weight dye (HC Blue No. 1, a nitrophenyl- enediamine derivative) was studied. Percutaneous absorption in rats and rabbits was demonstrated. The dye was excreted in both the urine and the bile. Chromatographic studies of urine and bile demonstrated identity with the original dye, suggesting that no metabolic alteration of the dye occurred during in vivo transit.