Boots the Chemist has launched an investigation after a 22-year-old woman suffered an extreme allergic reaction to its own brand hair dye kit.

Sky News reports that call centre worker Zoe Vernon from Didsbury in Manchester had previously dyed her hair, but not using the Boots Colour kit. She had no reaction after performing the recommended patch test, but the morning after dyeing her hair woke up with a painful red, swollen face covered in blisters. In the following days, the reaction grew worse, until Ms Vernon was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, where she was treated for three days.

Ms Vernon told local newspaper the South Manchester Reporter that the experience was ‘terrifying’ – especially as the reaction steadily grew worse and not better.

Her boyfriend was away at the time she used the kit, but was so shocked at her appearance when he returned that he took her to the local walk-in health centre. Nurses there were concerned that the swelling on her neck might affect her breathing and called an ambulance to take her to hospital.

Ms Vernon has now returned home but has blurred vision in one eye and has been prescribed steroid medication.

Boots said that customer safety was ‘paramount’. A spokeswoman said:

‘We would like to take this opportunity to remind customers of the importance of following the instructions on hair colourant packs carefully before use and to ensure that a skin sensitivity test is carried out 48 hours before use.’

Ms Vernon was put on a drip in hospital and specialists told her the burns she had suffered were some of the worst they had seen from using hair dye.

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