Hair Straightening Chemicals Associated with Higher Uterine Cancer Risk

NIH study finds Black women may be more affected due to higher use

Frequent use of chemical hair-straightening products could put women at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than those who do not use such products, a major study by the National Institutes of Health found. Previous studies have found hair product use to be associated with a higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers including breast and ovarian cancer; however, to our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the relationship with uterine cancer.

Why Is This Important:  Black women use hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently and tend to initiate use at earlier ages than other races and ethnicities, these findings may be even more relevant for them.

For more information, visit the National Institutes of Health.

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