Most of the people have probably dyed their hair. Besides improving appearance, colouring hair can also increase a person's confidence, especially for those who already have grey hair. But, apart from the benefits, are these hair dye products safe to use?

The question arises, considering that hair dye products are made from several chemical compounds. Previously studies showed that the chemical compounds contained in hair dyes can increase the risk of cancer, especially breast. This is because these chemical compounds can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled through the nose. In addition, these chemical compounds are known to act as carcinogens or “endocrine disruptors” in the body that can increase cancer risk. So then, can colouring hair increase the risk of all types of cancer?

According to the results of a study published in The BMJ recently, researchers did not find a significant relationship between the use of hair dye and most types of cancer. These results were obtained after analysing 117,200 women who like to dye their hair with a follow-up period of 36 years. Before the study starts, it was ensured that the participants do not possess any history of cancer.

The results, researchers did not find an increased risk of cancer or cancer-related death in those who dye their hair permanently. Specifically, hair dye does not increase the risk of bladder, brain, colon, kidney, lung, and immune system cancers. It's just that researchers found a slight increase in the risk of skin, breast, and ovarian cancer in women who had naturally light hair. In addition, researchers also found a slight increase in the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma in those who had naturally dark hair. But, again, this was caused by the use of higher dye concentrations.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from: Pixabay

Source(s):

• Zhang, Y., Birmann, B.M., Han, J., et al. (2020). Personal use of permanent hair dyes and cancer risk and mortality in US women: a prospective cohort study. The BMJ, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2942.
• Healthline - Hair Dye Not Linked to Increased Risk of Most Cancers (2020). https://www.healthline.com/health-news/hair-dye-not-linked-to-increased-risk-of-most-cancers, September 16, 2020.