A recent article reported that a Maryland woman developed uterine cancer after using hair relaxers for decades. She is joining a group of lawsuits who accuse the company selling the hair straightening/relaxing products of not warning consumers of the health risks.
A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found evidence of association between the use of hair straightening products and uterine cancer. Hair straightening/relaxing products may contain hazardous chemicals with endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties.
What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?
Hair relaxers contain certain chemicals, such as phthalates an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), which helps the product to and penetrate hair and skin. EDCs are mixtures of chemicals that can interfere with hormonal action. EDCs are in found in many everyday products that can mimic, block or may interfere with hormones in the endocrine system.
How can you get uterine cancer from using hair relaxers/straighteners?
Exposure to excess estrogen and a hormonal imbalance of estrogen and progesterone have been identified as key risk factors for uterine cancer. Synthetic estrogenic compounds, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), could contribute to uterine cancer risk because of their ability to alter hormonal actions.
According to Terekeci, et al., human exposure to EDCs mainly occurs by ingestion and to some extent by inhalation and dermal uptake. Exposure to contaminants in hair products
Who is most at risk for uterine cancers caused by hair relaxing/ straightening products?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study finding that black women may be more affected due to higher use of hair relaxing/straightening products. In a large, prospective cohort study, approximately 60% of the participants who reported using straighteners in the previous year were self-identified black women.
Chronic exposure to EDCs in hair relaxers has been linked to more than just cancer. Other diseases, such as asthma, have also been associated with exposure to the EDCs found in hair relaxers.