A teenage boy’s head swelled twice its normal size in a hair dye incident gone terribly wrong.
A Reddit user posted a dozen pictures of his friend’s little brother, who took pictures of himself in a bathroom mirror after dying his hair and suffering an allergic reaction.
The boy’s face is normal in the first picture, and he smiles slightly as he shows off his new hue.
But in the next photo, his face begins swelling and he looks with confusion at the mirror. In photos following, his eyes nearly disappear into his cheeks, as they are swollen beyond compare, and his skin appears flushed.
![The boy's face is normal in the first picture, and he smiles slightly as he shows off his new hue](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1744000005DC-267_634x616.jpg)
![In a second photo, his face begins swelling and he looks with confusion at himself in the mirror](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1712000005DC-565_306x423.jpg)
![In a second photo, his face begins swelling and he looks with confusion at himself in the mirror](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1774000005DC-993_306x423.jpg)
In the next photos, his face begins swelling and he looks with confusion at himself in the mirror
![In photos following, his eyes nearly disappear into his cheeks, as they are swollen beyond compare](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F170C000005DC-43_306x423.jpg)
![In photos following, his eyes nearly disappear into his cheeks, as they are swollen beyond compare](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1729000005DC-376_306x423.jpg)
In photos following, his eyes nearly disappear into his cheeks, as they are swollen beyond compare
His smile disappears and he looks like he is in pain.
Another Reddit user who said they know the boy assured that the swelling ‘looked w
‘He’s doing good now, the swelling is pretty much almost gone,’ the user wrote.
In one photo, the boy is wearing what looks to be a hospital bracelet on his arm. The photos were taken over the course of about a week and a half.
![The teenage boy's face becomes misshapen as the swelling continues to grow](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F176A000005DC-144_306x403.jpg)
![The teenage boy's face becomes misshapen as the swelling continues to grow](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F173D000005DC-806_306x403.jpg)
The teenage boy’s face becomes misshapen as the swelling continues to grow
![The allergy was likely in reaction to a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, which is found in more than 99 percent of permanent hair dyes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F171E000005DC-506_306x367.jpg)
![The allergy was likely in reaction to a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, which is found in more than 99 percent of permanent hair dyes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F175E000005DC-945_306x367.jpg)
The allergy was likely in reaction to a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, which is found in more than 99 percent of permanent hair dyes
The allergy was likely in reaction to a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, which is found in more than 99 percent of permanent hair dyes.
When skin comes in direct contact with that chemical, irritation can occur. The chemical is stronger in darker hair dyes.
Most often, the symptoms are mild, but in some cases, they can be as severe as anaphylactic shock, where the face and mouth swell up and breathing can become difficult.
![Most often, the allergy symptoms to hair dye are mild, but in some cases, they can be as severe as anaphylactic shock, where the face and mouth swell up and breathing can become difficult](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1735000005DC-241_306x383.jpg)
![Most often, the allergy symptoms to hair dye are mild, but in some cases, they can be as severe as anaphylactic shock, where the face and mouth swell up and breathing can become difficult](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/08/article-2275740-176F1758000005DC-28_306x383.jpg)
Most often, the allergy symptoms to hair dye are mild, but in some cases, they can be as severe as anaphylactic shock, where the face and mouth swell up and breathing can become difficult
Most people will have some problem with allergies or allergic reactions at some point in their lives. Allergic reactions can range from mild and annoying to sudden and life-threatening. Most allergic reactions are mild, and home treatment can relieve many of the symptoms. An allergic reaction is more serious when severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) occurs, when allergies cause other problems (such as nosebleeds, ear problems, wheezing, or coughing), or when home treatment doesn’t help.