This is the swollen face of teenager Charlotte Higgins after she used an everyday hair dye.

The 13-year-old's eyes are so puffed up she can barely see, her neck is covered in a nasty rash and her forehead is swollen as well.

Her parents were so alarmed they took her to the doctor, who referred her to the children's hospital.

She was immediately put on steroids to try to counter the problem.

It began after the St Bernadette's school pupil decided to dye her hair dark brown from its usual blonde over the Easter holidays.

Charlotte, of Mile Walk, Whitchurch, had dyed her hair previously with Clairol Nice 'n Easy but decided to try a different product in the range called Perfect 10.

She said: "On one previous occasion I developed a rash but I thought it was my eczema.

"But this time, after a few days, my face started to swell and it got worse."

Her parents Michelle and Scott say she was barely recognisable.

Her dad, a 39-year-old lorry driver, said Charlotte had carried out a patch test before using the dye and had followed the instructions on how long to leave it in contact with the hair.

But he said he was shocked when the problems started: "All her forehead was swollen, she had a rash and her eyes started to swell.

"She went to the doctor and then to the children's hospital and we were told it was probably caused by the dye.

"She was given steroids and we came home but the next morning she was worse with both eyes really swollen and she couldn't open them."

Charlotte ended up back in hospital but was allowed home with more medication and the swelling is now starting to go down.

She said: "It's been painful as well as swollen. I'm now going to go back to being blonde."

Now Charlotte and her parents have said warnings of possible problems with such products should be made more prominent on packaging.

Her mum, 35-year-old Michelle, also said a patch test recommended by the manufacturers to be carried out 48 hours before using the dye should be extended because it took longer for Charlotte to start feeling unwell.

Mrs Higgins said: "The instructions on the box suggest doing a patch test and to leave it for 48 hours but it was after that amount of time that the problems started."

She said there was a warning that it could cause a rash or, in rare cases, swelling but said it was not prominent enough.

Sally Henderson, spokeswoman for Clairol, said: "I'm very sorry this has happened. Reactions can happen with any hair dye and it's important to do a patch test every single time people dye their hair.

"We would urge Charlotte and her family to contact the consumer relations hotline number, which is printed on the packaging. It is 0800 181184.

"Information can then be passed on to a medical team, who will contact a dermatologist to find out what caused this reaction.

"All packaging complies with EU regulations and there are warnings on the box and inside about possible reactions, as well as how to do the patch test."