A new study warned that using permanent hair dye or chemical straighteners increases the risk of breast cancer. Researchers at The National Institutes of Health, in the US, urge people to consider cutting back their use of the products, with frequent users most at risk.
In their study which was published in the International Journal of Cancer, the researchers analyzed the haircare of 46,709 women and tracked them for a decade. Those who had used permanent dyes in the previous year were 9 per cent more likely to develop breast tumours than non-users.
This rose to 60 per cent among African American women who used the dyes at least every eight weeks. White women faced an 8 per cent higher risk when using the products this often. All women who chemically straightened their hair at least every eight weeks were 30 per cent more likely to suffer.
On her part, study leader Dr Alexandra White said: "Researchers have been studying the possible link between hair dye and cancer for a long time but results have been inconsistent."
“In our study, we see a higher breast cancer risk associated with hair dye use, and the effect is stronger in African American women, particularly those who are frequent users.”
Colleague Dr Dale Sandler said: "We are exposed to many things that could potentially contribute to breast cancer and it is unlikely that any single factor explains a woman's risk.
“While it is too early to make a firm recommendation, avoiding these chemicals might be one more thing women can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer.”
Prof Paul Pharoah, from the University of Cambridge, was not involved in the study but described the findings as “intriguing”.
He added: “This is an interesting study that has been carefully conducted, however the results need to be interpreted with caution."
“It is quite likely to be chance finding that is a statistical fluke. Women who have used such products in the past should not be concerned about their risks.”
Similarly, Dr Kotryna Temcinaite, from charity Breast Cancer Now, has urged women not to worry about the study's results.
She said: "While this study suggests hair dyes and chemical straighteners could be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, the overall evidence remains inconclusive and we’d urge women not to worry on account of these results."
"This is a large study but all participants had a family history of breast cancer, which could put them at increased risk of the disease.. It is also unclear what specific products women used, or how long they used them for, so it is difficult to draw any direct conclusions on this study alone."
"More research is now needed to understand how different compounds found in common hair products could potentially be involved in the development of breast cancer.. What we already know is that all women can help keep their breast cancer risk as low as possible by maintaining a healthy weight, keeping physically active and drinking less alcohol.. Even small changes are a great start," she explained.
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