You may have heard that the use of hair dyes could damage your hair. But there might be even more at stake than just your hair health. According to a pair of recent studies, there may also be a link between hair dyes and breast cancer risk.
The Link Between Hair Dyes and Breast Cancer Risk
Back in 1999, a team of US scientists first looked into the possible effects of hair care products on breast cancer risk. They noted that women with breast cancer were more likely to have dyed their hair than healthy women. However, they couldn’t find any link between hair dyes and breast cancer risk.
But in 2015, a Finnish study managed to find the connection. The authors found that women who used hair dyes were 23% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who didn’t dye their hair. What’s more, the risk seemed to increase with age. As such, the risk was 28% higher than normal for women over the age of 50.
Another recent study examined the same link among African-American women. The authors reported that the risk of breast cancer was 50% higher in women who used hair dyes. Interestingly, they also found that the risk was much higher for darker dyes.
What Else Do We Know?
Both these studies have proven that there might be a link between hair dyes and breast cancer risk. But neither could determine exactly what that link is.
The authors say that women can’t get breast cancer just from using hair dyes. Instead, it is a combination of various harmful factors they have little-to-no control of. Using hair dyes is one of the factors we can control. That is why it’s important to be aware of the related risks.
Final Word
In light of these recent findings, avoiding dying your hair would be the best thing to do. Alternatively, you can opt for natural herbal dyes instead of the chemical-heavy ones. If you choose the latter, do a patch test before applying the dye to make sure it won’t cause an allergic reaction.
