Perms Linked to Uterine Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty

February 21st, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

A new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology definitely adds a point to the #TeamNatural tally with a published paper from researchers at Boston University linking hair relaxers to uterine fibroid tumors in women and early puberty in young girls.

Led by Lauren Wise of Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center, scientists followed more than 23,000 pre-menopausal Black American women from 1997 to 2009 and found that the two- to three-times higher rate of fibroids among black women may be linked to chemical exposure through scalp lesions and burns resulting from relaxers.

Women who got their first menstrual period before the age of 10 were also more likely to have uterine fibroids, and early menstruation may result from hair products black girls are using, according to a separate study published in the Annals of Epidemiology last summer. Three hundred African American, African Caribbean, Hispanic, and White women in New York City were studied. The women’s first menstrual period (menarche) varied anywhere from age 8 to age 19, but African Americans, who were more likely to use straightening and relaxers hair oils, also reached menarche earlier than other racial/ethnic groups.

While so far, there is only an association rather than a cause and effect relationship between relaxers, menarche, and fibroid tumors, as Tamika Fletcher, co-owner of Natural Resources salon in Houston, pointed out in a Fox report, the hair care industry isn’t regulated by the FDA so there’s no telling what black women are putting in their hair and how harmful those products may be.

These studies go way beyond the damaging effects chemical relaxers may have on one’s hair, women and girls may be damaging their reproductive systems with some of the hair products they use, making it even more critical to know exactly what you’re putting in your hair and in your body.

How do you research the hair products you use and make sure their safe?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • Lady H

    I think this is just another attempt by the “white” controlled media to “throw black women under the bus”.  Why dont they worry about how many white women are literally frying themselves in tanning booths and getting skin cancer. I think whites are just mad because they think they are the only ones that are supposed to have straight hair, and now that black women use relaxers and wear weaves, and lace fronts they realize they dont have the monopoly on “straight hair”.

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  • http://www.besthairrelaxer.net/ Relaxers for Black hair

    I had noticed people looking at the internet and come educated to the salon and ask so many knowledgeable questions these days. It is crtical of women to know all these relaxers are made of different types of ingredients and some are not compatible with each other. People should educate themselves so that they can prevent from unnecessary side effects.

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  • quinn

    Very interesting to know and now also let’s also find the percentage that die from these tumors that sometimes lead to ovarian cancer. I truly believe that the hormones in the food now-a-day play the biggest part in early puberty in the black community,because its expensive to eat healthy.

  • http://www.besthairrelaxer.net/ Best hair relaxer

    Not surprising considering the chemicals used in relaxers

  • Amanda

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFy09VTTrN0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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  • AdmitAdmitAdmit

    Women who get perms do not seem to have issues getting pregnant from what I see. However, I lose count of how many women I’ve encountered who have had uterine fibroid issues at one point in time.

    Some people are so quick to use defense mechanisms and subscribe to groupthink, that they never question themselves about the chemicals in perm. Yet, let them see someone smoking or abusing drugs or alcohol or food or penis or vagina, etc.They are sooooo very quick to speak on that. Everybody’s got their something and there is almost no limit to vanity and narcissism in our culture, unless you actually cause harm to another. In fact, the first time I really saw people get enraged was when a mother got Botox injections for her 10-year-old daughter.

    So many people are quick to refer to God and the Bible, but God warned man not to choose a mate based on outer beauty alone, but for some people, that is all they care about.

    Perm is the only product, besides color (for obvious reasons) that we apply with gloves. What would you think if you bought a bottle of lotion and the manufacturer included gloves and a special soap to wash it off? People are now PERMING THEIR EYE LASHES!!! <— I rest my case.

    *By the way, I do not think I should be an authority telling everyone to go natural. I do think that acknowledging there has to be danger in using perms would be honest though. Just admit that you prefer to use perm regardless of the dangers and stop with the nonsense. It is not a conspiracy of the white man. It is the chemicals and the smell and the price. How much does it cost to make a perm? The kits include the perm, activator, shampoo, deep conditioners, gloves and a mixing utensil for $7? Some of the lesser known BRANDS (Marketing) have two for the price of $7.

  • TX2Hi

    “I just have a question….why is it that the products designed for black women have all millions of side effects and negativities but you dont hear anything about the products for white women. Why dont the perms they use to make their hair curly have serious health risks and side effects? They keratin treat their hair, get perms, glue hair extensions, just like us but you dont hear much about their products causing cancer or death. Makes you wonder if chemists are secretly adding certain ingredients to black hair care products for an underlying reason’

    They also have more cosmetic surgery as well. White are in existence to study blacks. As stated before smoking may cause fibroids as well. But of course whitey wakes up to study hair relaxers on blacks only.

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  • AralynStCrow

    It has nothing to do with being happy with what you have. I use relaxers. I decided to go natural for 6 months, and found that the upkeep was ridiculas and the look *i* wanted was not possible with a hot comb.
     
    Im not trying to be white, dont want to be white, dont look to Beyonce (and her lace fronts), or Naomi Campbell for inspiration. I look in the mirror every day and decide what I want to look like, outside of “societal norms.”
     
    I speak well, have piercings and tattoos, listen to metal, rap and everything in beween. Im not accepted by black or white culture for too many reasons to name.  White people tan until they are just as dark as me (light skinned black woman) and *they* dont want to be white. What makes black women who use relaxers ANY different.
     
    Its just another way, one way or another to jump on a “one race is better than the other” bandwagon. Medical research aside, this is not a black/white issue. is it unhealthy? Yes. There is no doubt. But STOP with the black/white BS.
     
    White people arent going to stop tanning, black people arent going to stop perming. get. Over. it.

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