FDA Driven Warning For Rihanna & Millions Of Women — Hair Relaxers With Formaldehyde Should Be Banned, Say Regulators

“This proposed rule would ban formaldehyde (FA) and other FA-releasing chemicals (e.g., methylene glycol) as an ingredient in hair smoothing or hair straightening products marketed in the United States,” the FDA states in its proposed rule.

“These chemicals are used in certain cosmetic products that are applied to human hair as part of a combination of chemical and heating tool treatment intended to smooth or straighten the hair.  Use of hair smoothing products containing FA and FA-releasing chemicals is linked to short-term adverse health effects, such as sensitization reactions and breathing problems, and long-term adverse health effects, including an increased risk of certain cancers.”

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Formaldehyde was labeled as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on CancerExternal Link Disclaimer back in 2011 due to the chemical being linked to specific types of cancer after prolonged exposure or being in contact with high levels of the toxic gas.

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials.

“In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes.”

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“The fact that formaldehyde is still allowed in hair care products is mind-blowing to me. I don’t know what we’re waiting for,” Linda Birnbaum, a former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program said in a statement, according to KFF Health News.

As for why a push for a ban hasn’t come sooner, the FDA’s chief scientist Namandjé Bumpus, told the news outlet, “I think primarily the science has progressed.

“Also, the agency is always balancing multiple priorities. It is a priority for us now.”

As Chief Scientist, I always look to the science related to the safety of FDA-regulated products, including cosmetics. /1 https://t.co/wacuUy35cQ

— Dr. Namandjé N. Bumpus (@DrBumpusFDA) October 18, 2023

In a video announcement about the proposed ban, Bumpus explained formaldehyde has been linked to upper respiratory tract cancer and myeloid leukemia.

In the October post, Bumpus said, “Studies show that hair straightening products containing formaldehyde, which are often used by and marketed towards Black women, increase the user’s risk for certain cancers, especially when used with heat.

“Earlier this year, FDA announced plans to draft a proposed rule banning formaldehyde in hair straightening and smoothing products. We hope that the planned proposed rule will help address this disparity and promote safer alternatives for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Kimberly Bertrand, an associate professor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, a lead author on a study published a few months ago, concluded with her fellow researchers that uterine cancer may be linked to hair relaxers.

“In this large cohort of Black women, long-term use of chemical hair relaxers was associated with increased risk of uterine cancer among postmenopausal women, but not among premenopausal women,” the study authors concluded. “These findings suggest that hair relaxer use may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for uterine cancer.”

Do Benzene and Formaldehyde Cause Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

Bertrand, among other epidemiologists, say that “black women often frequent and lifelong application of chemical relaxers to their hair and scalp might explain why hormone-related cancers kill more Black women than white women per capita,” according to KFF Health News’ report.

For anyone living in California or Maryland, those states are set to ban formaldehyde from all personal-care products in 2025.

Hair Relaxers Gaining Popularity?

According to a  2021 report from Refinerary29, commentary on a viral tweet about hair relaxers revealed “some Black women are feeling the pressure applied by the natural hair movement, particularly those with coilier 4C textures.

“They claim that certain hair types are not represented enough within the natural hair community. Others have hinted at the regimented nature of hair tutorials and costly routines made up of lots of different products, tools and techniques.”

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The responses flooded in following Twitter user @monarchcurl’s post, reading, “Just watched a tiktok with the headline ‘relaxers are back!’ What ya’ll think about that? Would you consider it again? (No relaxer disparaging in your responses. If you don’t have something of substance to say move right along.)”

Just watched a tiktok with the headline "relaxers are back!"

What ya'll think about that? Would you consider it again?🤔
(No relaxer disparaging in your responses. If you don't have something of substance to say move right along.)

— Anita • LA Licensed Tight Curl Stylist (@monarchcurl) July 20, 2021

Some women said a natural hair look made their hair healthier and longer, but others felt the natural hair “community” was “cult-ish/click-ish.”

Refinery29 noted another social media user commenting that “women are burnt out from the natural hair movement.” Another user reportedly wrote, “I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to have defined curls and laid baby hairs and a particular final texture or look…rather than embracing one’s *actual* natural hair. It’s no wonder folks feel stressed.”

Health Effects of Formaldehyde Exposure

According to the National Cancer Institute, short-term health effects of formaldehyde, when it’s is present in the air at levels more than 0.1 ppm, “some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation.”

The NCI notes that some people may be very sensitive to formaldehyde and others may have no reaction at all to the same level exposure.

As for formaldehyde and cancer risk, the NCI states, “Although the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure are well known, less is known about its potential long-term health effects. In 1980, laboratory studies showed that exposure to formaldehyde could cause nasal cancer in rats. This finding raised the question of whether formaldehyde exposure could also cause cancer in humans.

“In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under conditions of unusually high or prolonged exposure (1). Since that time, some studies of humans have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with certain types of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies formaldehyde as a human carcinogen (2). In 2011, the National Toxicology Program, an interagency program of the Department of Health and Human Services, named formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen in its 12th Report on Carcinogens (3).”

According to NPR, last year a study was released revealing an increased risk of hormone-related cancer in women who have used the chemicals on their hair.

Lead author Alexandra White, the head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group told NPR at the time, “We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%.

“This doubling rate is concerning. However, it is important to put this information into context – uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.”

A news release for the study, by the National Institute of Health, explained, “Uterine cancer accounts for about 3% of all new cancer cases but is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, with 65,950 estimated new cases in 2022. Studies show that incidence rates of uterine cancer have been rising in the United States, particularly among Black women..”

An author on another study, Che-Jung Chang, stated, “Because Black women use hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently and tend to initiate use at earlier ages than other races and ethnicities, these findings may be even more relevant for them.”

Understanding Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer also called endometrial cancer develops in the lining of a woman’s uterus. The uterus, or womb, is a pear-shaped organ where a fetus can develop and grow.

More than 90% of uterine cancers occur in the endometrium (the layer of tissue that lines the uterus), making them endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcoma, on the other hand, is very rare and develops in the myometrium, the muscle wall of your uterus.

This year, approximately 67,880 people will be diagnosed with this type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Black Women Die From Breast Cancer at Shockingly Higher Rates Than White Women

Although this type of cancer chiefly affects postmenopausal women at an average age of 60, it is possible for younger women to be diagnosed with uterine cancer. Still, it’s very rare for women under 45 to get the disease. Also, uterine cancer is more common among Black women than white women.

“Endometrial cancer starts when cells in the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) start to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other parts of the body,” the ACS explains. “The uterus is a hollow organ, normally about the size and shape of a medium-sized pear. The uterus is where a fetus grows and develops when a woman is pregnant.”

Dr. Diana English, a Gynecologic Oncologist at Stanford Medicine, said in a previous interview with SurvivorNet that some conditions may predispose a person to develop uterine cancer.

“I think one of the challenges with uterine cancer is that it can also happen in younger patients that have certain conditions that might predispose them to cancer,” Dr English said. “And these patients might not be thinking about this, their primary care providers might not be speaking to them about this.”

Understanding the Risks and Symptoms of Uterine Cancer

Dr. English noted the risk factors for this disease as well. “Some of the common risk factors for uterine cancer include hypertension, diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is a syndrome that’s marked by anovulation or the absence of regular periods, which tends to happen in premenopausal patients.”

“And some of these patients are obese, some of these patients have signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism or elevated male sex hormones, and Lynch Syndrome. The one good thing about uterine cancer, if there can be a good thing about any cancer, is that there’s usually an early warning system, which is abnormal bleeding.”

‘I Push Forward,’ Actress Meagan Good Had a Uterine Cancer Scare Years Ago’

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

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