Hair Straightening Product Use Linked to Uterine Cancer

THURSDAY, Oct. 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Use of hair straightening products appears to be associated with incident uterine cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and colleagues examined the correlation between hair product use and incident uterine cancer among 33,947 Sister Study participants aged 35 to 74 years enrolled from 2003 to 2009. Participants self-reported use of hair products in the previous 12 months in baseline questionnaires.

The researchers found that during an average follow-up of 10.9 years, there were 378 uterine cancer cases. The rates of incident uterine cancer were increased with ever versus never use of straightening products in the previous 12 months (hazard ratio [HR], 1.80). When comparing frequent use (more than four times in the previous 12 months) with never use, the association was stronger (HR, 2.55). There was no correlation for use of other hair products, including dyes and permanents or body waves, with incident uterine cancer.

"Given the widespread use of hair products and the rising incidence of uterine cancer, our findings which identify hair straightener use as a potential target for intervention are particularly relevant for public health approaches to reduce uterine cancer incidence," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text