Breast Cancer Risk Greatly Increases For Black Women Who Use Straighteners and Hair-Dyes

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Jan 06, 2020

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We are often told that one of our best chances of beating a disease like breast cancer is to avoid some of the risk factors that could lead to the disease in the first place. A new study suggests black women are a whopping six times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer from using relaxers and hair-dyes.

Business Insider’s Pulse reports about the new study published in the International Journal of Cancer that suggests a link between hair products commonly used among African-American women and breast cancer risk. The large study involving 46,000 women found that those who used chemical straighteners and hair dyes were 60% more likely to develop breast cancer.

The study found that white women who use hair dyes increase their risk of breast cancer by about 7%, while black women who use hair dyes saw a 45% increase in breast cancer. For black women who used hair dyes more often (once every 5 to 8 weeks) there was a 60% increase in the disease. Participants in the study who had hair dye applied professionally at salons lowered their risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast oncologist Dr. Larry Norton answers the question whether we should worry about the results of this study and give up on chemical laden hair products. Dr. Norton explains, “Obviously this topic is useful to look at. Should a person stop dying their hair? Everything in life has cost and benefit, there’s always risk in everything you do, it depends how important this activity is for you. I wouldn’t tell someone not to use these products, this study doesn’t give anywhere near enough evidence to prove the products in these products are cancer-causing.”

What do you think of the new study that suggests hair dye and relaxers can greatly increase breast cancer among black women?

Does this information change the way you think about different hair products you use regularly?