AAD
Author: Willhemenia Loremipsum Special session: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet Category: Lorem ipsum View all results

Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.

  • Presentation

Safety of Chemical Hair Relaxers: A Comprehensive Review

Description

The presentation discusses the safety concerns surrounding chemical hair relaxers, particularly those used predominantly by Black women. The speaker highlights a significant study linking hair relaxers containing glyoxylic acid to kidney injury and explains the mechanisms through which these products can cause various health issues, such as scalp burns, respiratory problems, and potential links to cancers, including breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers. The adverse effects are associated with ingredients like formaldehyde and glycolic acid, with relaxers often having a high pH that is harmful to the skin. The speaker notes that relaxers can disrupt hormone functions due to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which may also contribute to fertility issues and premature puberty. There is a call for greater awareness of these risks among users and for more comprehensive research and regulatory oversight regarding personal care products, as current FDA regulations are limited. Ultimately, the findings underscore the need for collaboration among medical professionals, researchers, and public health advocates to address these health consequences effectively.

View more

Conclusions

  • Chemical hair relaxers are increasingly associated with localized scalp reactions, respiratory issues, and severe health risks such as kidney injury and various types of cancer.
  • Usage of chemical hair relaxers has been linked to asthma and respiratory diseases due to exposure to toxic fumes.
  • The presence of glycolic acid in hair relaxers can lead to kidney injuries, manifesting as acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis.
  • There are potential links between hair relaxer use and hormonally mediated cancers such as breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer, particularly among Black women.
  • Studies indicate that frequent use of relaxers may double the risk of ovarian cancer compared to non-users.
  • Research suggests possible connections between hair relaxer use and premature puberty as well as decreased fecundability in women.
  • The limited regulatory oversight of hair care products by the FDA necessitates further research to evaluate the long-term health effects of ingredients in chemical hair relaxers.
  • Robert T, Tang E, Kervadec J, Zaworski J, Daudon M, Letavernier E. Kidney Injury and Hair-Straightening Products Containing Glyoxylic Acid. N Engl J Med. Mar 21 2024;390(12):1147-1149. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2400528
  • Miranda-Vilela AL, Botelho AJ, Muehlmann LA. An overview of chemical straightening of human hair: technical aspects, potential risks to hair fibre and health and legal issues. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2014;36(1):2-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12093
  • Stiel L, Adkins-Jackson PB, Clark P, Mitchell E, Montgomery S. A review of hair product use on breast cancer risk in African American women. Cancer Med. Mar 2016;5(3):597-604. doi:10.1002/cam4.613
  • Etemesi BA. Impact of hair relaxers in women in Nakuru, Kenya. Int J Dermatol. Oct 2007;46 Suppl 1:23-5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.03458.x
  • Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Hairdressing and the prevalence of scalp disease in African adults. Br J Dermatol. Nov 2007;157(5):981-8. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08146.x
  • Wise LA, Wang TR, Ncube CN, et al. Use of Chemical Hair Straighteners and Fecundability in a North American Preconception Cohort. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2023;192(7):1066-1080. doi:10.1093/aje/kwad079
  • Zota AR, Shamasunder B. The environmental injustice of beauty: framing chemical exposures from beauty products as a health disparities concern. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017;217(4):418.e1-418.e6. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2017.07.020
  • Lee MS, Nambudiri VE. The CROWN act and dermatology: Taking a stand against race-based hair discrimination. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 2021;84(4):1181-1182. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2020.11.065
  • Nkimbeng M, Malaika Rumala BB, Richardson CM, Stewart-Isaacs SE, Taylor JL. The Person Beneath the Hair: Hair Discrimination, Health, and Well-Being. Health Equity. 2023;7(1):406-410. doi:10.1089/heq.2022.0118
  • Richardson V, Agidi AT, Eaddy ER, Davis LS. Ten pearls every dermatologist should know about the appropriate use of relaxers. J Cosmet Dermatol. Mar 2017;16(1):9-11. doi:10.1111/jocd.12262
  • Weathersby C, McMichael A. Brazilian keratin hair treatment: a review. J Cosmet Dermatol. Jun 2013;12(2):144-8. doi:10.1111/jocd.12030
  • Boyer IJ, Heldreth B, Bergfeld WF, et al. Amended safety assessment of formaldehyde and methylene glycol as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. Nov-Dec 2013;32(6 Suppl):5s-32s. doi:10.1177/1091581813511831
  • Helm JS, Nishioka M, Brody JG, Rudel RA, Dodson RE. Measurement of endocrine disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals in hair products used by Black women. Environ Res. Aug 2018;165:448-458. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030
  • Khumalo NP, Stone J, Gumedze F, McGrath E, Ngwanya MR, de Berker D. 'Relaxers' damage hair: evidence from amino acid analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Mar 2010;62(3):402-8. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.04.061
  • Gavazzoni-Dias MF, Rochael M, Vilar E, Tanus A, Tosti A. Eczema-Like Psoriasiform Skin Reaction due to Brazilian Keratin Treatment. Skin Appendage Disord. Feb 2016;1(3):156-62. doi:10.1159/000442529
  • Narasimman M, De Bedout V, Castillo DE, Miteva MI. Increased Association between Previous Pregnancies and Use of Chemical Relaxers in 74 Women with Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia. Int J Trichology. Jul-Aug 2013;5(3):146-150. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.115099