Breast cancer is a major concern among women of all ages. Prior studies focusing on the association between hair dye and breast cancer have come up with mixed results until recently, so the news can be confusing. That's why one group of researchers decided to address the topic using sisters by recording the results over an eight-year period.
These researchers received more definitive results than others have in the past, and they were able to draw a clear link between cancer-causing chemicals in the permanent hair dye and the risk for breast cancer. So if you've heard of past studies on the topic and are asking, "Does Hair Dye Cause Breast Cancer?" you'll want to read about the conclusions found by this new study to get the facts.
Referred to as the Sister Study, a recent government-funded research study on the connection between hair dye and breast cancer was conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health and was first appeared online on December 3rd, 2019, in the International Journal of Cancer. The study involved over 46,000 women between the ages of 35 and 74 who were cancer-free but had a sister with breast cancer. It concluded that women who use permanent hair dyes and hair straighteners have a higher risk for breast cancer.
The press release in the link above reports that women who used permanent hair dye regularly in the year prior to enrolling in and participating in the study were more likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not.
In addition, African American women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer if they regularly use permanent hair dye. (In both instances, the term "regular" refers to using the permanent dye at home every five to eight weeks or more.) The Sister Study found that regular use among African American women was associated with a 60% increased risk of breast cancer, while the same amount of regular use among white women was associated with an 8% increased risk of breast cancer.
It's important to note that these figures are related only to the use of permanent hair dye. The study found little to no risk associated with using temporary or semi-permanent hair dye.
Researchers conducting the Sister Study also found an association between the use of chemical hair straighteners and a higher risk of breast cancer. Most hair straighteners contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen, or a substance that is known to cause cancer. Straightener use is more common among African American women than it is among white women, but the risk of developing breast cancer from using hair straightener is not necessarily higher for African American women than it is for white women.
What are the chemicals in hair dye that cause cancer? BreastCancer.org responds to this question when it writes that research shows there are over 5000 chemicals in hair care products, including some that are classified as hormone disruptors (also referred to as endocrine disruptors). These hormone disruptors, the article explains, can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body. The hormone disruptors actually block or mimic estrogen and other hormones, and this phenomenon throws off the body's hormonal balance.
Permanent hair dye use may be of particular concern to women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Estrogen can actually make hormone-receptive positive breast cancer develop and grow, BreastCancer.org tells us. Because of this fact, many women make an effort to limit their exposure to these hormone disrupters, which are chemicals that can behave like estrogen.
Besides hormone disruptors, there are other types of cancer-causing chemicals in hair dye, BreastCancer.org reports. Some research studies have found that these other chemicals cause mammary gland tumors in rats.
The takeaway:
The Sister Study draws a definite link between permanent hair dye use and breast cancer risk. However, The women in the study were already at a higher risk of developing breast cancer since their sister had the disease. There are are more studies to be done to answer questions such as:
Despite the link between breast cancer and these haircare products for women, experts are reluctant to say that women should stop using them entirely. They emphasize that there are actually several factors which increase the risk of breast cancer and other types of cancer. In most cases, a single factor such as dyeing your hair with permanent dye does not lead to a breast cancer diagnosis. However, after the recent Sister Study, experts draw the following conclusions with confidence:
At Compass Oncology, we specialize in providing the latest information on innovative cancer treatments, as well as the highest level of supportive care systems and services at our centers. If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, or if you would like to learn more about the potential connection between hair dye and breast cancer, please contact us.