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Study: Beauty and the breast: hair product use and breast cancer risk

Summary

Past studies using mostly animal models showed a link between use of hair products (dyes, straighteners and relaxers) and increased risk of certain cancers. In this study, researchers looked at data on hair product use among African-American (AA) and White women to see if certain types of hair products increased breast cancer risk, and how that risk might differ between race and breast cancer hormone status. (9/27/2017)

Beauty and the breast: hair product use and breast cancer risk

Relevance

This article is most relevant for Women who use hair products who are concerned about their risk for breast cancer

Relevance Rating Details

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium

Media Ratings

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How we rated the media

Who covered this study?

Chicago Tribune

Could hair dyes, relaxers raise breast cancer risk?
This article rates 4.5 out of 5 stars

Fox News

Certain hair products may increase your risk of breast cancer
This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Contents

At a glance In-depth
Findings     Limitations             
Questions for your doctor Resources  


STUDY AT A GLANCE

This study is about:

Examining the link between hair product use and breast cancer risk among African-American and White women.

Why is this study important?

In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among all women— African-American (AA) women are at higher risk of dying from breast cancer than White women. One factor that may impact a woman’s breast cancer risk is use of hair products. In this study, researchers wanted to see if there was a link between breast cancer risk and use of certain hair products, including hair dyes, relaxers/straighteners, and deep conditioning creams. The results show a possible significant link between use of some hair products and increased risk for breast cancer.

Study findings: 

Women who participated in this study were asked about their use of hair dyes and relaxers: what shade they used, how often they used it, and for how long. Among the 2,005 women without breast cancer and the 2,280 women with cancer, hair dye use was more common among White women than African-American women, while use of relaxers and deep conditioners was more common in African-American women than White women.   

Hair dye and breast cancer risk:

  • In African-American women, breast cancer risk was increased among those who reported use of dark hair dyes and salon application of dyes.
  • In White women, no association was found between hair dye use and breast cancer risk.

Relaxers and breast cancer risk:

  • In African-American women, regular use of hair relaxers was not associated with increased breast cancer risk.
  • In White women, use of relaxers was associated with increased breast cancer risk; however, this finding must be interpreted with caution given the small sample size of White women who used relaxers in this study.

Deep conditioners and breast cancer risk:

  • Among all women in this study (cases and controls and AA and White), no association was observed between the use of deep conditioners and breast cancer risk.

What does this mean for me?

While the results of this study suggest there might be a link between use of certain hair products and an increased risk of breast cancer, this is just one study; the authors admit that further studies looking at this link are needed to confirm these results. Thus, this study should not be considered as proof of an effect but rather a potential association to be explored. For women concerned about environmental exposure to and an increased risk of breast cancer though, the data suggest that it may be reasonable to choose your hair products carefully and even, decrease or discontinue their use. However, there is not enough evidence to support the conclusion that use of certain hair products cause increased risk of breast cancer.

Posted 9/27/17

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References

Llanos A., Rabkin A., Bandera E., et al. “Hair product use and breast cancer risk among African American and White women.” Carcinogenesis (2017) Vol.38, No. 9: 883-892.

Disclosure

FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.

This article is relevant for:

Women who use hair products who are concerned about their risk for breast cancer

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people with breast cancer

healthy people with average cancer risk

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IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF RESEARCH

Study background:

Exposure to in hair products and increased breast cancer risk has been explored previously, mostly in animal models. This study looked at possible associations between breast cancer and hair product use in African American (AA) and White women. The study was conducted by Adana A.M. Llanos and colleagues from Rutgers University and published in June 2017 in the journal Carcinogenesis. The results seem to indicate an association between hair product use and increased breast cancer risk; that risk differed by race, and in some cases, subtype of breast cancer.  However, researchers cautioned that more studies are necessary in humans to confirm that certain hair products increase breast cancer risk.

Researchers examined data of 4,285 women taking part in the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). In that study, women were asked questions on many factors that might affect breast cancer risk: history of personal and family health, exposure before birth, use of hormones, reproductive history, physical activity, alcohol use, smoking history, vitamin use, and hair product use.

Researchers of this study wanted to know:

Whether the use of hair products (dyes, relaxers, straighteners) increases breast cancer risk in AA and White women.

Population(s) looked at in the study:

This study looked at data collected from 2002 to 2014 from the WCHS case-control study conducted in New York City and 10 counties in New Jersey. Eligible participants were ages 20-75 and able to complete an interview in English. A total of 4,285 women were included in the present analysis:

  • 2,280 had a breast cancer diagnosis (cases) 
    • 1,508 of these were AA
    • 772 were White 

2,005 had no history of breast cancer (controls)

  • 1,290 of these were AA 
  • 715 were White  

Study findings: 

Hair dye and breast cancer risk:

  • For AA women
    • Those who reported use of dark shades of hair dye had a 51% increased risk of breast cancer.
  • For White women
    • No comparable increase was seen.

Relaxers and breast cancer risk:

  • For AA women, regular use of hair relaxers was not associated with increased breast cancer risk.
  • In White women, although relaxer use was very low, use alone or together with hair dyes was associated with a 74% increase in breast cancer risk.

The researchers also looked at hair product use and increased risk of receptor-positive (ER+) vs. receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer, because of the marked increase in ER+ cancers in the United States, and to see whether certain hair products might mimic or trigger a change in the body that somehow increases production of .

Among the 2,280 women with breast cancer: 

  • In AA women, an increased risk of ER+ breast cancer was associated with use of:
    • darker shades of hair dye
    • hair dye more than twice per year
    • hair dye applied in a salon   
  • In White women, use of relaxers or straighteners, either alone or together with hair dyes increased risk of ER-negative disease although in this study, the number of White women who regularly used relaxers or straighteners was very small. 

Limitations:

This study had several limitations. Because it was a case-control study (it retroactively compared people who had breast cancer with those who did not) researchers could not establish cause and effect. also limited the results—the WCHS study relied on each participant to accurately remember and report her use of hair care products over the course of her lifetime. Nor did the current study ask women what brands of products they used, so researchers weren't able to identify links between cancer and specific ingredients. Lastly, due to the small number of ER+ breast cancer cases, more studies are needed to confirm the link between hair product use and this type of breast cancer.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that there may be a link between hair products and breast cancer risk. The authors state that additional studies are needed to further determine if there is a link between hair product use and increased breast cancer risk.

Share your thoughts on this XRAYS article by taking our brief survey.

Posted 9/27/17

Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Questions To Ask Your Doctor

  • I've been diagnosed with breast cancer, is it okay for me to use chemical-based hair care products on a regular basis?
  • What is my risk for breast cancer?
  • Are their specific products or chemicals that are linked to cancer that I should avoid?

Who covered this study?

Chicago Tribune

Could hair dyes, relaxers raise breast cancer risk? This article rates 4.5 out of 5 stars

Fox News

Certain hair products may increase your risk of breast cancer This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars

Medical News Today

Hair dyes, relaxers tied to raised breast cancer risk This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars

How we rated the media

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Article Rating Details

Chicago Tribune: Could hair dyes, relaxers raise breast cancer risk?
Rating: 4.5 Stars

  • The question raised in the headline is clearly addressed in the article.
  • The article is easy to read and follow: the author starts out with the problem (are hair products harmful), shares results from the current study, and lists some limitations. There is a through description of the study (how the data was collected and how the participants were recruited), what variables were looked at, and summary of the results. 
  • Which type of hair products increased risk were clearly stated as were several limitations to the study.
  • The article contains quotes from the lead researcher of the study.
  • An opposing viewpoint was presented (Personal Care Products Council) with a caution on interpreting the results of this study.

Fox News: Certain hair products may increase your risk of breast cancer
Rating: 3.5 Stars

  • The headline matches the article, and allows for the possibility that only certain hair products increase risk.
  • The author does cite disagreement in this area, specifically the National Cancer Institute.
  • Links are included to the study and other sources listed.
  • Very short discussion of the study design and findings.

Medical News Today: Hair dyes, relaxers tied to raised breast cancer risk
Rating: 3.5 Stars

  • While the headline is the focus of the study, the wording could mislead readers into thinking all hair products will raise BC risk.  This is only one study, and not all hair dyes and relaxers are proven to raise breast cancer risk.
  • The article is easy to read and the graphics are eye-catching.
  • The author does point out those factors not under a woman’s control such as age and family history versus use of hair products which you can control.
  • There is very little description of how the initial data was collected or limitations of the study.
  • There is no opposing viewpoint shared, nor are comments from the study authors included.

Study Rating Details

Relevance: Medium-High

  • This study in most relevant for women who use certain hair products such as dyes and relaxers who are concerned about how these products impact their breast cancer risk. 
  • There are likely different reasons women use hair products at different stages of life. For example, women may be more likely to use hair dyes later in life to cover grey hair. This study did not take into account different patterns of use of certain hair products generally (i.e. older age when using hair dye), or between African American and White women specifically (i.e. regular relaxer use versus no relaxer use). 
  • In general, the conclusions of this study are backed up by the data; however, no data was collected on brand name or ingredients of hair products. Not having this data likely impacts the results and conclusions of this research. For example, the chemical make-up of certain hair products used by White women may be different than AA women. 
  • The association between use of relaxers and straighteners in White women and increased breast cancer risk should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size. 
  • This study should not be considered as proof of an effect of use of certain hair products on breast cancer risk but rather a potential association which needs further study.

Scientific Strength: Medium 

  • This study was a retrospective case-control study (it retroactively compared people who had breast cancer with those who did not). Researchers could not establish cause and effect.  

  • Recall bias limited the strength of the results.  The WCHS study relied on each participant to accurately remember and report her use of hair care products over the course of her lifetime. 

  • The study did not ask women what brands of products they used, so researchers weren't able to identify links between cancer and specific ingredients.  

  • There were only a small number of ER+ breast cancer cases. More studies are needed to confirm a link between hair product use and this type of breast cancer.