If straightening your hair may seem trivial, a study shows that it is not without risk. Produced by the American Institutes of Health and published on October 17 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, it demonstrates that using straightening products capillary increases the risk of developing Uterus cancer. The study even specifies that the risk doubles for people who use it frequently, more than four times a year.
To carry out their study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 33,500 American women, recruited between 2003 and 2009 and followed for nearly 11 years. In total, 378 women developed uterine cancer. As a result, for those who have never used hair straightening products, the risk of developing uterine cancer by their 70s is only 1.64%, compared to 4.05% for frequent users. “Because black women use straightening or straightening products more frequently and tend to start younger (…), these results could be particularly interesting for them”, underlined Che-Jung Chang, co-author of the study. Among those surveyed, about 60% of women who said they had used hair straightening products during the year said they were black.
For the moment, the researchers have not yet pointed the finger at specific products or brands but point out that certain chemicals could contribute to the increase in the risk of cancer of the uterus. We therefore find parabens, bisphenol A, metals or even formaldehyde. The latter, also called formalin, is used to perform Brazilian smoothing. “We know that these smoothing products contain many chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, and they can be expected to have an impact on hormone-dependent cancers”, explained to AFP Alexandra White. “The concern is that these items contain chemicals that could act like estrogen in the body.”she added.
Laura Bertrand
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