Hair Relaxers Not Linked to Breast Cancer Risk in African-Americans

Ivanhoe Newswire
Friday, May 18, 2007; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- African-Americans who use hair relaxers can breathe a sigh of relief. A new study shows the chemicals used to straighten hair do not increase the risk of breast cancer.

New research from Boston University and Howard University Cancer Center reveals no increase in breast cancer risk based on the type of relaxer, how often it's used or for how long women use it. Results show women who use relaxers seven or more times a year over a 20-year period or longer had the same risk as those who used them for less than a year.

More African-American women ages 40 or younger develop breast cancer than Caucasian women of the same age. African-American women, in general, are more likely to die of the disease. Because the increased risk is not completely due to known risk factors such as race and family history, researchers are looking at other potential causes.

Chemicals in hair relaxers can get in the body through cuts or burns in the scalp. Manufacturers are not required to list all the ingredients, so the products could contain a substance that is potentially harmful.

"Because hair relaxers are more widely used by younger African-American women than they are used by older African-American women, a connection with increased risk of breast cancer in younger women seemed possible," lead investigator Lynn Rosenberg, Sc.D., Boston University School of Public Health, was quoted as saying. "Also, millions of African-American women use hair relaxers, and substances that are used by millions of women over a span of many years should be monitored for safety."

Researchers found younger women used chemical straighteners more than older women; most use them before age 20. One-third uses them at least seven times a year. However, researchers conclude they found no connections between using the relaxers and breast cancer overall or among younger women even if they used the products often and for a long time.

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SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2007;16(5):1035-7