Will use of hair dye regularly raise your risk of leukaemia?
May 13, 2008
A recent study has found that women who dye their hair are more prone to risk of getting cancer. However experts say the evidence is should we stop dyeing our hair? SOme people are now more concerned after a study has confirmed that use of hair dye more than nine times a year increased the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (a form of cancer of the blood cells) by 60 per cent.
Studies have also shown that Women who used dark hair dyes were 50% more likely to develop another type of blood cancer - follicular lymphoma. Most people dye their hair between six and eight times a year. Permanent hair dyes account for around 80 per cent of the market and the remaining 20% of the market includes non-permanent dyes. Unlike permanent dyes, non-permanent should be preferred as they just coat the hair and gradually fade away.
Recently, there were concerns that the widespread use of hair dye - and its consequent presence in the water supply - had increased the risk of bladder cancer in the general population.
“When you colour your hair, around 90 per cent of the dye sticks to your head,” comments EU, scientists at Queen’s university. “It’s inevitable that some of the dye will be absorbed by the skin. “These compounds are then broken down in the body and passed out through the urine.” So should we be worried?
Shamim Khan, a consultant urologist at The London Clinic, says the evidence connecting hair dye and cancer is still inconclusive.
“We can’t say there’s no risk at all, but the evidence to support the link is still wishy-washy,’ he adds. “It’s not like the link between smoking and cancer which we know exists. “Incidentally, smoking is also the main cause of bladder cancer.
“Some studies have shown there are chemicals in hair dye that could induce cell changes - and thus predispose someone to develop cancer - but this would have to be over a long period of time and there are no clear trends.”
Women who are regularly using hair dye on their hair “shouldn’t panic about getting lymphoma”, confirms Henry Scowcroft, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK.
However, having highlights or lowlights - where the dyeing is done using a tin foil system which stops short of the scalp - means little dye comes into contact with the scalp, except when it’s being washed off. This may be an even safer option.
Even for the risks to the hairdressers themselves, the jury is still out.
Agencies
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