Hair dyes and relaxers might raise the risk of getting breast cancer, new study suggests
Women who use hair dyes and relaxers might have an increased risk of getting breast cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey say that carcinogens in the hair products might contribute to the increased risk of cancer, a risk that affects black and white women in different ways, according to Global News. Black women who dyed their hair had a 51% higher risk, while white women a 72% higher risk.
“One hypothesis is that the chemical composition of hair products marketed for and used among whites may differ from the products marketed for use by African-Americans,” said Adana Llanos, an assistant professor of epidemiology and lead author of the study, according to Daily Mail. “More research is needed to determine specifically which compounds and chemicals are dangerous and even which specific consumer products and brands contain those chemicals.”
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For the study, 4,285 black and white women from New York City and New Jersey, aged 20 to 75, were asked about their previous use of hair care products, including dyes, chemical relaxers, deep conditioning creams containing cholesterol or placenta. Around 2,280 were breast cancer survivors, as the Chicago Tribune reports. Llanos said that whether the chemicals in hair products may boost cancer risk or not is unclear. However, she noted that the study suggests that the increased risk is connected to DNA damage or the body’s absorption of harmful chemicals.
“Just because we found these associations doesn’t mean that if you dye your hair dark, or any color, you’re going to get breast cancer,” Llanos added. “But at the same time, the study points to something else we should be mindful of.”
Dana Rollison, of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., advised women not to panic based on these results. “Until more results are available, women should not be concerned with using hair dyes,” said Rollison, who is vice president and chief data officer. “Exposures should not be avoided on the basis of a single study.”
Previous studies claimed that hair dyes could increase the risk of getting breast cancer. A Finnish study by researchers at the University of Helsinki stated that exposure to carcinogens in the dyes led to a 23% increase in getting the disease. The American Cancer Society is yet to confirm these findings.
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