(FreedomBeacon.com)- Research reveals that millions of Americans use chemical hair straightening products may increase the risk of womb cancer.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that followed 33,000 women throughout the US for more than ten years.
Those who used straightening products four or more times per year had a 4.05 percent uterine cancer risk compared to women who didn’t use them at a rate of 1.64 percent.
According to scientists, the cream’s ingredients enter the circulation via the scalp and proceed to the womb.
Only 3% of all cancer diagnoses in American women are for uterine cancer each year, making it a rare disease.
However, experts caution that rates have risen recently in the US, especially among black women.
Womb cancer is the most frequent cancer of the female reproductive system in the US, with over 66,000 new cases reported each year.
Between-period bleeding, pelvic discomfort or cramps, and a white or clear vaginal discharge are all warning signals.
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 81% of patients survive for at least five years after diagnosis.
However, the percentage drops to 63% for black women, which experts attribute to the fact that they are more likely to get an aggressive version of the diagnosis.
This pioneering research tracked women aged 35 and 74 for almost 11 years.
Three hundred seventy-eight incidences of uterine cancer were reported throughout that period.
Out of 1,572 users of chemical straighteners four or more times annually, 26 developed cancer.
And out of 30,329 diagnoses, 332 were never utilized.
After that, researchers adjusted for cancer risk variables, including age, poverty, alcohol usage, and smoking.
According to the analysis, those who used the hair products had a 155% increased risk of contracting the illness.
According to the researchers, black women made up around 60% of those who used hair straightening lotions, indicating they may be particularly vulnerable.
The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Alexandra White, an epidemiologist at the NIH, said that “the doubling rate is disturbing.”
It’s crucial to remember that uterine cancer is a very uncommon kind of cancer, nevertheless. More investigation is required to validate these results in other groups, ascertain if hair products contribute to uterine cancer health inequalities, and pinpoint the precise chemicals that could raise the risk of cancer in women.
To our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological research examining the connection between using a straightener and developing uterine cancer.
