Written by MASSH
Apr 10, 2024
Many women worldwide avail keratin hair treatment to experience the benefits of having smooth, shiny and frizz-free hair. However, a recent study that has been doing the rounds on the internet says that keratin treatment might be causing kidney damage. This new revelation has created quite a stir in the world of salons and hair treatments. The evidence that comes with the study is sure to make you question if you should at all go for your keratin treatment appointment. Before you make any certain decisions, let’s deep dive into this recent study that has come out and what are the harmful side effects that you should be aware of before availing keratin treatment.
According to the study published by The New England Journal of Medicine, a 26-year-old woman had developed kidney damage. It was reported that she started feeling symptoms after undergoing hair treatment procedures at a salon. The woman had no previous health conditions. However, after visiting the salon and getting her hair treated in June 2020, April 2021, and July 2022, she started experiencing symptoms like back pain, diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting. In addition, she had also reported feeling a burning sensation on her scalp during the hair treatment procedure. She also developed ulcers on her head shortly after the hair treatment.
The doctors at The New England Journal of Medicine who published the case had found high levels of creatinine in the woman’s blood. High levels of creatinine in blood are a sign that the kidney is not functioning properly as it is supposed to. The doctors also found blood in the urine, however, there were no signs of infection and as per the imaging reports, there were no signs of blockage observed in the urinary system.
For keratin hair treatment, the hair is treated with a straightening cream that contains the chemical glycolic acid, which is likely to have caused the burning sensation on the scalp and the ulcers. An Indian Express news article recently mentioned, as per the HOD of Nephrology at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, Dr Urmila Anandh, “When glycolic acid metabolises, it becomes glyoxylic acid, and finally forms oxalate, which in turn harms the kidneys.” The formation of oxalate crystals can elevate the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Earlier, keratin-based hair treatment creams contained formaldehyde which was replaced by glycolic acid as a potentially safer alternative.
The doctors at The New England Journal of Medicine experimented theorising that the acid likely got absorbed through the woman’s skin and reached her kidney through the bloodstream which got broken down to form oxalate crystals that caused kidney damage. The doctors who were treating the 26-year-old affected woman believe that this case should be taken as a warning of the potential dangers of using glycolic acid in hair treatments. In fact, they recommend that the use of products containing the said chemical should be avoided and ultimately removed from the market.
Glycolic acid and its metabolised form, ‘glyoxylic acid’ both have a strong hair-straightening effect, as per a study published by PubMed. However, as per recent studies, it is likely that if you’re having symptoms of kidney damage, it might be because of the hair treatment products. So, here the wise thing is to be aware of the signs of kidney damage to help diagnose, treat and prevent kidney damage.
According to recent studies, the chemicals glycolic acids and glyoxylic acids used in large amounts in keratin-based hair treatment products are harmful to kidney health. The American Journal of Kidney Diseases has also come up with similar findings. So, there is no dearth of evidence in this case. If you’re someone who seems to be suffering from the signs of kidney damage, listed above, make sure to visit MASSH. Our healthcare professionals can help you get diagnosed or prevent kidney damage to work towards a better health overall.
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