US FDA Could Ban Chemical Hair Straighteners Due to Health Risks

The US Food and Drug Administration is likely to recommend banning chemical hair straighteners that pose serious health risks.

Hair-straightening treatments, such as chemical relaxers and pressing products, are likely to be proposed for a ban by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products contain chemicals like formaldehyde, methylene or glycol that pose significant health hazards, according to a report.

How Safe are Hair-Straightening Chemical Products?

The ban is specifically aimed at products that contain formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals like methylene or glycol. These chemicals are used in certain cosmetic products that are applied to human hair as part of a combination of chemical and heating tool treatment intended to smooth or straighten the hair.

These “chemicals are linked to short-term adverse health effects, such as sensitization reactions and breathing problems, and long-term adverse health effects, including an increased risk of certain cancers”(), the FDA said.

‘The FDA's plan to outlaw chemical hair straighteners, highlights the potential health hazards, particularly for women, who make up the majority of users. #hairstraightener #FDAban #healthrisk #beautywithrisk’

After issuing a proposed rule, the FDA will review public comments, and decide whether further action is needed. "Based on the comments, we might decide to end the rule-making process, to issue a new proposed rule, or to issue a final rule. If we decide to issue a final rule, we publish the final rule in the Federal Register," the FDA said.

Studies have also linked the chemicals with cancers including ovaries, breast, and uterus. In a study published last year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers found a link between the use of straightening products and uterine cancer.

Among nearly 34,000 women in the US ages 35 to 74, the study found a higher incident uterine cancer rate for those who reported using hair-straightening chemical products in the previous 12 months relative to those who did not.

Reference:

Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36245087/)

Source-IANS