Women who regularly use permanent hair dye could be increasing their risk of breast cancer up to 60 percent, according to scientists writing in the International Journal of Cancer.
A study based on the medical records of more than 45,000 women found a positive correlation between permanent hair dye and breast cancer—particularly among those who are black.
"Many of us have worried that the chemicals in especially the permanent hair dyes and hair straighteners have the potential to cause cancer.".
Taken as a group women who regularly dyed their hair appeared to be increasing their risk of developing breast cancer by 9 percent.
However, for black women, the risk of developing breast cancer was significantly higher—at 45 percent.
Dark hair dye was associated with a 51 percent increase in risk for black women and an 8 percent in risk for white women.
Though, as the study authors point out, this is likely to affect black women more as chemical straighteners are used by black women more than they are by white women. »