Chemical hair straighteners increase uterine cancer risk

Women who use chemical-based hair straighteners are twice as likely to develop uterine cancer.

But other chemical hair products—such as dyes, bleach, highlights or perms—don’t increase the cancer risk, say researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Women who use a chemical-based straightener at least four times a year and for a decade or more are at special risk.  Their chances of developing the cancer are around 4 percent, while the risk among women who have never used the products is around 1.64 percent.

Uterine cancer is relatively rare; it accounts for just 3 percent of all new cancer cases, although it is the most common cancer to affect the female reproduction system, and around 65,000 Americans develop it every year.

The researchers had analysed data from 33,497 US women aged between 35 and 74 who were participating in the Sister Study.  During the 11 years of the study, 378 women developed uterine cancer.

JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2022; doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac165

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community