Karmactive TeamA new research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have surveyed thousands of American women for more than decade and have found a link between hair straightening chemicals and untwine cancer. Uterine cancer is rare but the cases have begun rising slowly and steadily.
33,497 US women between 35-74 were studied for a period of 11 years. During this period 378 uterine cancer instances were diagnosed. The study was led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
The women who used hair straightening products had two times more chances of developing cancer compared to women who didn’t. The exact percentage for women who didn’t use straightening products was 1.64% compared to 4.05% of women who frequently used. Uterine cancer amounts to 3% of all new cancer cases.
In the survey, 60% of the straightener using women were black but there isn’t any evidence about the link between cancer and race. The Report doesn’t contradict earlier studies showing straighteners and hormone related cancers in women. Chemicals used in straighteners like parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde may be causing the cancer but more study is definitely required to gain more clarity.
“To our knowledge this is the first epidemiologic study that examined the relationship between straightener use and uterine cancer,” said White one of the contributors of the study. “More research is needed to confirm these findings in different populations, to determine if hair products contribute to health disparities in uterine cancer, and to identify the specific chemicals that may be increasing the risk of cancers in women.”
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The study examined hair care product usage among 50,000 women aged 18 to 45 over a 10-year period. Researchers found that regular users of chemical straightening products had a 2.3 times higher risk of developing uterine cancer compared to non-users. The chemicals in question include formaldehyde, phthalates, and other endocrine-disrupting compounds. The American Cancer Society recommends that consumers look for products labeled as free of harmful chemicals and choose natural alternatives when possible.
