Permanent Hair Dyes And Straighteners Increase Women's Risks Of Breast Cancer

Questions pertaining to the safety of hair color and texture changing chemicals have been on the circulation for a long time. And a recent study has finally come up with some serious findings. Women who used permanent hair dyes or straighteners are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who didn’t use those hair styling products.

Among 46,709 participants, the researchers from the National Institute of Health reported that women who permanently dyed their hair before participating in the study were 9% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who didn’t color their hair.

Also, among the African-American women who used permanent dyes very frequently were at a 60% higher risk of breast cancer compared to white women. The research found very little increase in breast cancer risk among those who used temporary hair dyes or semi-permanent ones.

“Researchers have been studying the possible link between hair dye and cancer for a long time, but results have been inconsistent,” Scitechdaily quoted the study’s lead author Alexandra White, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology Group, “In our study, we see a higher breast cancer risk associated with hair dye use, and the effect is stronger in African American women, particularly those who are frequent users.”

And with respect to hair straightener use, the researchers found that women who used them every 5-8 weeks were had 30% higher chances of developing breast cancer. Although the risk of breast cancers from hair straightening was similar among all women in general, African-American women used hair straighteners more frequently.

Although the results are intriguing, experts opine that women who have used such hair-styling products in the past should not be concerned about their risks of breast cancer.

When asked if women should stop using such hair treatments, the study investigators replied that it is too early to make any firm recommendations. They opine that many factors could potentially contribute to breast cancer and it is unlikely that a single factor like exposure to permanent dyes or hair straighteners puts a woman at risk. “Avoiding these chemicals might be one more thing women can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer,” they said.