Can hair dye really cause cancer?

Coloring hair is the choice of many people to simply change the "atmosphere" and look fresher. For some people, dyeing their hair aims to cover gray hair, so that they look more youthful in appearance. However, the question often arises, how safe is it actually to dye your hair with hair dyes? Is it true that hair dye can cause cancer? Let's take a look at what the health experts are saying here.

Know the types of hair dye

Based on the chemical base of the product, hair dye has three different types. The three types are temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent.

Temporary hair dyes are only temporary in nature and are very easy to wash off as the substance particles will not enter the hair shaft. Semi-permanent hair dye contains smaller molecules that can penetrate the hair shaft. While permanent hair dye is very difficult to discolor because the substance particles destroy the original color pigment from your hair and replace it.

The content in hair dye that needs to be watched out

Hair dyes do have a variety of different ingredients. Identify the various ingredients or substances that need to be aware of in the following special hair dyes.

• Para-phenylenediamine or PPD that causes an allergic reaction such as burning and headaches. PPD is also a potential carcinogen (cancer causing).
• Coal tar or coal, which is found in nearly 70% of hair dyes and can cause an allergic reaction.
• Lead acetate or lead which has been banned in various European countries because it is a carcinogen and can cause serious problems to the nervous system.
• DMDM hydantion which serves as a preservative. This ingredient has been linked to problems with the immune system.
• Ammonia can be toxic and corrosive, causing respiratory problems.
• Resortcinol which are irritating in nature and possibly act as a carcinogen.

What are the risks of using hair dye for health?

Seeing the many harmful chemicals contained in hair dye, it is possible that coloring hair saves various risks of health problems that can arise in the short term and in the long term.

The risk of dye on hair against cancer also has not been proven scientifically. Nohynek and his team who carried out their research results in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology in 2004 stated through Science Direct that studies that have been done on hair dyes did not produce a significant number, even a negative relationship, between the use of hair dyes and the growth of various cancers., such as bladder cancer.

Other research also shows the same thing. Saita Peter and her research team published their research results in the PMC US National Library of Medicine. From this research, the experts found that not only bladder cancer, but other diseases such as leukemia and breast cancer were not positively associated with the use of hair dyes.

Furthermore, the American Cancer Society says that the studies and research that have been done provide weak evidence and cannot be scientifically accepted. Therefore, future research is needed to determine whether dyes for hair are indeed dangerous.

Even though it is quite safe, it does not mean that the dye for hair is free of side effects

The various studies above have indeed explained that the results obtained have not been successful in proving that hair dyes cause various diseases. Further research is needed to prove this.

Even so, you need to avoid hair dye when you are in a health condition such as pregnant or breastfeeding because it can be dangerous for the development of the fetus or child in the future. Research conducted by Chen et al found an increased risk of tumors in infants because mothers dyed their hair during pregnancy.

In addition, the chemicals in hair dyes are quite harsh so that it can cause allergic reactions in some people, such as rashes on the skin, hives, and other reactions. These chemicals can also irritate the eyes. If that happens, stop use immediately and consult a doctor. In very rare cases, using hair dye in the eye can cause blindness.