This is a collab post: Women with wild waves, crazy-cool corkscrews, and naturally kinky textures frequently crave sleek, straight hair because straight hair is always the go-to for any occasion. It never goes out of trend. To achieve this over the bathroom sink, hair straightening products and flat irons or hair irons are used.
However, current research shows that hair straighteners are dangerous to the woman’s health, not just the scalp and hair. Some hair straightening products, such as those that use formaldehyde or sodium hydroxide, can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer ) has classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen, meaning that it has the potential to cause cancer.
Several studies have found a link between hair products used mainly by Black women and several types of cancer, including uterine cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
In this article, we will discuss the health hazards of using hair straighteners frequently.
Breast cancer
According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, using hair straighteners regularly increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 30%.
A research team also discovered that permanent hair dyes and straighteners may increase breast cancer risk.
Permanent hair dye and chemically infused straighteners may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens that have been related to breast cancer development. Patients often experience lumps, inverted nipples, swollen lymph nodes, nipple discharge, etc.
Uterine cancer
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Uterine cancer, also called endometrial cancer, is more common among Black women. According to various studies, those who use hair straighteners have a higher chance of having uterine cancer than those who do not use such tools. It’s been discovered that straighteners contain chemicals that produce formaldehyde when heated.
Cervical cancer
Recently, it’s also been discovered that there is a link between hair relaxers and cervical cancer. This form of cancer can have no symptoms, but patients have been said to experience pain in the pelvis, abnormal menstrual flow, fatigue, abnormal vaginal bleeding, etc.
Ovarian cancer
Many women have been diagnosed with ovarian, which various studies claim resulted from using hair straighteners. This kind of cancer may have no symptoms, but affected patients have complained of pain in the abdominal or pelvis region, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, abdominal fullness, lump in the abdomen, etc.
Legal cases
In recent times, there have been several law cases filed against the manufacturers of hair straighteners, both flat irons and relaxers, due to the health hazard attached to these products.
Several ongoing uterine cancer lawsuit cases show that there is a link between the frequent use of hair straighteners and cancer and a host of others. A common example is Mitchell’s lawsuit. According to Mitchell, who had used hair straightening products produced by L’Oreal and others for over 20 years, these products caused her uterine cancer; the companies kept on producing despite being aware of the hazards and never giving users warnings.
Different chemical hair straightener lawsuit attorneys are bringing cases against various beauty product corporations on behalf of cancer patients.
Conclusion
Have you been negatively affected by such a product as a frequent user? Some attorneys can help. As a frequent (up to 4 times annually) user of hair straightening products, you risk developing any of the above cancer.
If you have been diagnosed to have such cancer, you could file a case to get your due compensation, as these products were purchased without warning from the producers or marketers of such hazards.
If you’re confused about what to do or who or where to turn after using a dangerous or hazardous product, know that you’re not alone.