A new study suggests that hair straightening creams that straighten curly hair may be linked to cervical cancer risk.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, an epidemiologist Dr. Alexander White’s research team, participated in the “Sister Study” with 33,497 participants (35 to 74). As a result of a follow-up study conducted over 11 years for three), the British Daily Mail Internet version reported on the 18th.
Overall, women who did not use the hair straightening cream had a 1.64% risk of uterine cancer, but women who used the cream four or more times a year had a higher risk of uterine cancer by up to 4.05%.
During the study period, 1,572 women who used hair straightening cream four or more times per year were diagnosed with uterine cancer, of which 26 were diagnosed with uterine cancer.
Of the 3329 women who had never used a hair straightening cream, 332 of them had cervical cancer.
Taking into account risk factors for cervical cancer such as age, living standards, alcohol consumption, and smoking, the use of hair straightening cream was analyzed to be associated with a 55% increase in the risk of cervical cancer.
The chemicals used in hair straightening creams pass through the scalp, seep into blood vessels, circulate, and then enter the uterus, the research team explained.
In particular, if there are lacerations or wounds on the head, the absorption rate of these chemicals can be accelerated, the research team pointed out.
Although the study did not target specific brands of hair straightening products or specific ingredients in creams, they should be taken as warnings that parabens, bisphenol A and formaldehyde used in these products may increase cancer risk. emphasized.
However, further research is needed to determine which of the chemicals used in hair straightening products are associated with cervical cancer risk, the researchers added.
All hair is made of a protein called keratin.
Keratin contains a molecule called sulfide.
Keratin and sulfide sometimes pair with each other to form a disulfide bond.
At this point, the hair becomes curly.
Hair straightening cream that straightens curly hair contains sodium hydroxide, which opens the outer layer of hair, and ammonium thioglycolate, which breaks disulfide bonds.
In addition, carcinogens such as formaldehyde or parabens are used as preservatives.
In the United States, uterine cancer accounts for only 3% of all female cancers, but it is the most common among female reproductive tract cancers.
In recent years, the diagnosis rate of cervical cancer has been increasing.
The results of this study were published in the latest issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
/yunhap news