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FDA Proposes Ban on Formaldehyde Hair Smoothing, Straightening Products
The FDA proposes a ban after multiple studies have linked formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in hair products to uterine cancer.
A proposed rule by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed banning hair products that contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in the US. The proposed rule cites short- and long-term health effects as justification for updated recommendations.
Roughly one year ago, on October 17, 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the results of a study that linked hair straightening chemicals to an elevated risk of uterine cancer. The study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a subset of the NIH.
Researchers concluded that women who frequently used hair straightening chemicals doubled their risk of uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products. Although the study did not isolate a singular chemical as the source, it notes that parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde may be linked to increased uterine cancer link.
Beyond that, a more recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer linked hair dye and chemical straighteners to an increased risk of breast cancer. Specifically, using permanent hair dye increased breast cancer risk by 45% in Black women and 7% in White women. Additionally, using hair straightening chemicals increased breast cancer risk by 18%.
Many of these products contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. The CDC notes that although formaldehyde is used in many products, including fertilizer, paper, plywood, and resin production, it can have detrimental health effects.
Small amounts of formaldehyde exposure may only have minimal effects on human health, including eye, nose, throat, airway, and skin irritation. However, long-term and repeated exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to an increased cancer risk.
Considering these two compelling pieces of evidence, the FDA has proposed these new guidelines and will make regulatory decisions under its authority through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act. However, this rule is still in the early stages, and a thorough review of scientific research will be used to make evidence-based recommendations.
