Are hair relaxers dangerous? Hair relaxers can cause chemical burns if there is contact with skin. Also, research has shown that women who use relaxers frequently are more likely to develop uterine cancer.
What is a hair relaxer?
Hair relaxing is the process by which the natural, curly structure of one’s hair is chemically altered. This makes it easier to straighten. Relaxer creams and lotions do so by applying controlled damage to the protein structure of the hair shaft. This can lead to brittleness and breakage if not done properly.
Hair relaxers can be applied by a professional or at home with a relaxer kit. This process must be redone every 8 to 11 weeks to maintain the straight appearance.
Are hair relaxers dangerous?
Hair relaxers are not without their risks. If they come into contact with skin such as the scalp, they can cause chemical burns.
More dangers of hair relaxers
Another more pressing risk in recent years: frequent use of hair relaxer has been linked to an increased risk of developing uterine cancer.
Cancer causing chemicals
During an 11-year study called the Sister Study, 33,497 American women ages 35-74 were observed to identify risk factors for breast cancer and other conditions. Each woman who participated in the study had a sister who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Their shared genes, environment, and experience made it easier for doctors to identify risk factors (Sister Study). This study was conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During this experiment, 378 women were diagnosed with uterine cancer (NIH).
Frequent use of hair relaxers
Women in the Sister Study who used relaxers more than four times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer later on. While uterine cancer is a relatively rare cancer, those who never use relaxers have a 1.64% chance of developing it. The rate jumps to 4.05% for those who use relaxers frequently.
Unfortunately, 60% of women who reported using relaxers in this study were Black women. While the rate of uterine cancer does not differ based on race, the greater prevalence of use of hair relaxers by Black women, especially starting at a young age, may lead to greater adverse health effects in Black women (NIH).
FDA regulation?
Unfortunately, cosmetic products are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cosmetic products, other than color additives, and their ingredients are not required to receive FDA approval before going on the market.
Some items that fall under the umbrella of a cosmetic product:
- skin moisturizers
- perfumes
- lipsticks
- fingernail polishes,
- eye makeup
- facial makeup
- cleansing shampoos
- permanent waves
- hair colors
- deodorants (FDA)
Of course, hair relaxers are included in this list of cosmetic products. A manufacturer can use any ingredient they like in their product as long as it isn’t explicitly banned by the FDA and is properly labeled on their product.
This poses a problem when it comes to hair relaxers because they are easily absorbed into the body through the chemical burns they leave on the skin and scalp. This causes those who use them frequently to be much more at risk for exposure to carcinogens (NIH).
While cutting hair relaxers from your beauty routine may not completely reduce the likelihood of developing cancer, it is something to consider. It is important to be critical of what products go on our bodies so that we can be as safe and healthy as possible.
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