Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Does Hair Coloring Cause Cancer?

Does Hair Coloring Cause Cancer? Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: First I heard that hair dye causes cancer. Now I hear that it doesn't. What's the story? Would it be safe to color my hair? -- Siri K. A: The latest word on this ongoing question comes from a study in Spain in which investigators analyzed data from 79 scientific studies conducted in 11 countries and determined that there's no strong evidence showing that the use of hair dye increases the risk of cancer. Specifically, the research team found that, worldwide, the use of hair coloring products has no apparent effect on breast and bladder cancers, but may slightly increase the risk of leukemia and multiple myeloma. However, they said that the causal effect was too weak to be a major concern. Those who might be at greatest risk are individuals whose work exposes them to hair dyes over a prolonged period of time. The study was published in the May 25, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Last year, a study from Yale University reported that long-term use of dark hair coloring among women who began coloring their hair before 1980 may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a malignancy that occurs in the body's lymphatic system. Risks were highest among those who dyed their hair a dark color eight times a year or more. The study, published in the Jan. 15, 2004, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, found no increased risk of lymphoma among women who began dyeing their hair after 1980 - no matter how often they applied color. This may be due to changes in the dye formulas (perhaps as a result of the elimination of coal-tar ingredients after they were found to be carcinogenic when fed to lab rats and mice). But the Yale researchers also raised the possibility that women who started coloring their hair after 1980 may not have used the dyes long enough to see any adverse effects. They're now studying whether any genetic factors might make women who use dark hair dye more likely to develop lymphoma.
The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been on the upswing, rising 73 percent between 1973 and 1991 and continuing to increase ever since. Incidence rates are 60-percent higher than normal among AIDS patients. Exposure to pesticides and other environmental toxins also seem to play a role (pesticides have been linked with the disease among farmers and higher than normal rates occur among dry cleaners, rubber workers, aircraft maintenance workers and petroleum refining workers).
In general, I discourage people from using hair dyes containing artificial coloring agents, which to my mind are as suspect in cosmetic products as they are in food. When you apply hair dyes to your head, they're absorbed through the scalp, where there's a very rich blood supply that may carry them throughout the body. I'm sure the new study from Spain won't be the last word on this subject. I'll keep you posted as further evidence comes in.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: October 2005

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