This can help you understand that cancer risk isn't determined by a single factor, like genetics. Even the products we put in our hair every day can affect our health.
When you have a fuller picture of cancer risk factors, you can take steps to lower your personal chances of developing it. Dr. Cohen shares that regular checkups and preventive screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, are two hallmarks of protecting your health. However, you can also make intentional choices about the types of personal care products we use, such as in our hair.
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Let's back up for a second. What precisely are chemical relaxers? They're products or treatments used to straighten hair.
Black women disproportionately use chemical straighteners. Unfortunately, Dr. Cohen points to research, including a 2023 study of more than 46,000 Black women, suggesting that they are also more likely to develop uterine cancer.
Dr. Cohen acknowledges the deep-seated and complex reasons why people may use these relaxers. "Hair can be a deeply personal part of one’s identity, culture and self-expression," he says. "Beauty standards, workplace expectations and cultural pressures have historically influenced their use."
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What Happens When You Use Chemical Relaxers
"Some chemical straighteners and relaxers may contain or release chemicals of concern, including formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, phthalates, parabens and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals," Dr. Cohen notes. "Some of these chemicals can interfere with hormone signaling, including estrogen pathways."
"That’s important because hormones and chronic inflammation can influence how certain cancers develop and grow," he says. "At the same time, researchers are still trying to determine which ingredients may be most concerning, how much exposure matters and whether certain people may be more vulnerable than others."
Related: We Asked 3 Oncologists About the Worst Thing You Can Do for Cancer Risk and They All Said the Same Thing
Dr. Obeng-Gyasi agrees that "more research is needed to determine which products, ingredients, exposure levels, and patterns of use carry the greatest risk." Still, she says that people who have used relaxers deserve information about the risks, and she advises them to discuss concerns or symptoms with their doctor.
"People who want alternatives should speak with a licensed cosmetologist or hair care specialist about options that fit their hair type and goals," Dr. Obeng-Gyasi says. "The main benefit is reducing exposure to harsh chemical straighteners. However, alternatives should still be done carefully, because excessive heat, scalp irritation or tight hairstyles can also damage the hair and scalp."
Related: The One Thing Oncologists Wish People Would Stop Storing in Their Fridge
Sources:
Dr. Joshua G. Cohen, MD, FACOG, FACS, the medical director of the gynecologic cancer program at City of Hope Orange CountyDr. Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, MD, MPH, a breast surgical oncologist at OSUCCC-JamesDr. Ashley Haggerty, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New JerseyHair relaxer use and risk of uterine cancer in the Black Women's Health Study. Environmental Research. Use of hair straighteners and chemical relaxers and incidence of non-reproductive cancers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Hence then, the article about oncologists are begging women to ditch this common hair product was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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