Hair Dyes and Straighteners May Raise Breast Cancer Risk for Black Women

A new study finds a weak link between coloring and straightening treatments and breast cancer. While experts caution the results are far from certain, women have a right to know the possibility that use of these products may increase their breast cancer risk.

The Sister Study, which was conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences followed 46,709 women between the ages of 35-74 from 2003-2009, asking about their use of various hair treatments. Of that sample size, only about 9 percent were African American women. They found that African American women who use permanent hair dyes were 60 percent more likely to develop breast cancer, and women across all races using hair straighteners were 30 percent more likely to increase breast cancer risk.

Robin Dodson, a research scientist at the Silent Springs Institute says, “Our advice is that if you want to take a cautionary approach, limiting the use of these types of products is warranted.”

For more information, follow this link to the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/health/cancer-hair-dye-black-women.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share