Harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, found in synthetic dyes, can damage hair, cause skin and eye irritation, and may be harmful if inhaled.
By OLUFUNKE FALUYI
I felt like the last baby of the family that everyone dotes on because of all the messages I received about my experience with moin moin. I appreciate your concern.
Have you ever seen people who strictly adhere to healthy eating and still develop cancer? Yes, it happens.
Unknowingly, we are exposed to chemicals in diverse ways. This week, I would like to discuss the use of synthetic hair dyes, which is one of the ways we are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
Hair dyeing is a popular practice dating back to ancient Egyptian times. Initially, hair dye was used primarily to conceal grey and white hairs among the elderly.
However, in recent times, its use has become common among younger generations as a fashion statement.
In the late 1970s, certain aromatic amine chemicals were found to cause cancer in rats. Shortly after, hair dyes were reformulated to exclude these specific carcinogenic substances. That said, today’s hair dye manufacturers may still use thousands of chemicals in their products, some of which could be carcinogenic.
While offering a wide array of colours and effectiveness, synthetic hair dyes come with potential safety concerns, particularly those containing paraphenylenediamine.
These can cause allergic reactions, including scalp burns and skin irritation. Some studies suggest a possible link between synthetic hair dye use and an increased risk of certain cancers.
Harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, found in synthetic dyes, can damage hair, cause skin and eye irritation, and may be harmful if inhaled. They can dry out and weaken the hair, leading to breakage and split ends.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration banned lead acetate-containing hair dye. However, aromatic amines, also known as coal-tar products, are still available in the United States. Recognising the risks, the FDA requires packaging for coal-tar products to include a warning and instructions for consumers to carry out a skin test before applying the dye.
Europe and other countries have gone further by limiting the use of questionable substances in hair dye.
In 2006, the European Commission banned 22 hair dye chemicals for which there was no safety data to support their use. Since then, the list has grown to include 181 chemicals.
In 2010, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether personal use of hair dye increases cancer risk.
However, since then, further studies have been carried out, and some risks have become more apparent.
A 2021 study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three women coloured their hair at home, with 88 per cent doing so multiple times.
With the rising popularity of hair colouring, particularly the use of more vivid colours such as blue, purple, and green, comes growing concern over whether hair dye use may lead to cancer.