Permanent hair straightening products may give you cancer, women more susceptible: Research

Permanent hair straightening products can cause cancer, according to research conducted by National Institute of Health. The research shows that women are more susceptible to this carcinogenic hazard. The chemical present in the hair straightening products is the reason why more people are getting diagnosed with uterine cancer, the research has found.

Several women in the US have filed petitions in different courts complaining about how the chemical has caused endometrial or uterine cancer to them while using hair straightening products.

All the petitions have been clubbed together and now a court in Chicago shall hear them.

The research was done by National Institute of Research in October 2022, where findings have highlighted how products used to straighten hair permanently were causing cancer in people, particularly women. The research was done to find a link between the chemical and breast and ovarian cancer. However, the research stated that chemical used in permanent hair straightening products was the main cause of endometrial or uterine cancer.

The study was done on 33,497 US women in the age group of 37 and 74 years. The findings were based on health data tracked over 11 years. The research found 378 cases of uterine cancer.

The report also found that there was 1.64 per cent chance of women getting affected with uterine cancer by the time they attain 70-years of age. But the chances of uterine cancer increased to 4.05 per cent for those women who used products containing this chemical. 

In US, very few women get affected with uterine cancer and this type of cancer is reported only in 3 per cent women.

According to Dr. Anshuman Kumar of Dharamshila Hospital, these products contain Bisphenol A or formaldehyde and both chemicals are responsible for causing cancer in different researches. 

He was of the view that people must keep their lifestyles simple to avoid getting affected with these chronic diseases.

Likening it to the eating habits of people, he said that people must eat only seasonal fruit and vegetables and not go for items stored in cold storages. The items are preserved by applying formaldehyde on them.

A research by US's Centre For Disease has already warned people from using hair dyes and other similar products which have the potential to cause cancer.

At least three big companies are in the fray of these petitions. These three companies operate in India as well, while two are Indian companies.

A response has been sought from these companies and their response is awaited.