The dangers of these hair styling products are considerable, ANSES warns

Anses warns about hair styling products that contain a dangerous acid that can cause kidney failure.

The French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) sounded the alarm on Wednesday, October 16. The health authority warns in a press release of a danger present in hair styling products, which can cause kidney failure. In France, four cases have already been recorded this year, three of which have led to hospitalizations.

This alert is due to the presence of glyoxylic acid detected in these hair products.  "Glyoxylic acid will cause, when it passes into the blood, the formation of small crystals in the kidneys and it is these crystals that will block the kidney",  explained to AFP Dr. Juliette Bloch, director of alerts at Anses.

Additional cases could have gone under the radar if people drank a lot of water right after, eliminating the crystals. These deficiencies are, in fact, often treated by hyperhydration but this can also lead to chronic renal failure in the long term.

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The products concerned are those used for Brazilian straightening. This technique consists of injecting keratin into the hair, then passing it under hot plates. The goal is to make hair supple and shiny. Anses assures that almost all of these smoothing products contain this dangerous acid, which is used in particular to straighten hair.

In the event of symptoms, which may appear in the hours following smoothing, you must quickly consult a doctor or call a poison control center. This can manifest itself in nausea, abdominal pain or even lower back pain.

ANSES advises against the use of these products and has issued a warning with the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control and the General Directorate for Health to hairdressers, retailers and those who use such products their home.

Today, the presence of glyoxylic acid is not restricted in cosmetic products. The expertise undertaken by Anses aims to support a proposal to change this regulation to regulate the use of such a substance.