Hair smoothing chemicals and uterine cancer

A study reveals a possible link between hair straightening chemicals and uterine cancer.

Women who use chemical hair straighteners and relaxers may have a higher risk of uterine cancer, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States.

The findings of the study were published on October 17, 2022, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

STUDY DETAILS

The researchers used data from over 33,000 women participating in the Sister Study, a large ongoing study on risk factors for breast cancer and other health issues.

When the women enrolled in the study, they were asked about their use of different types of hair products in the previous year, including hair dyes, straighteners, and relaxers, as well as perms or body waves.

After an average of nearly 11 years of follow-up, women who reported using hair straightening products were almost twice as likely to develop uterine cancer as those who did not, after adjusting for other factors that could affect the risk. Women who reported frequent use of straighteners (more than 4 times in the previous year) were about 2.5 times more likely to develop uterine cancer.

The researchers did not find any links between uterine cancer and the use of other hair products, including hair dyes, highlights, and perms.