ALBAWABA A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine has drawn attention to potential kidney injuries linked to hair treatments.
The case study highlighted a 26-year-old Tunisian woman who experienced three acute kidney injuries between June 2020 and July 2022, each following a hair treatment session at a salon.
According to the letter penned by French doctors, the woman, previously healthy, presented symptoms including vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and back pain after each salon visit.
Notably, the onset of these symptoms coincided with the hair treatments, during which she reported a burning sensation and scalp ulcers.
Medical examinations revealed elevated plasma creatinine levels, indicative of kidney dysfunction. The hair-straightening cream used by the salon contained 10% glyoxylic acid, a chemical suspected to be responsible for the observed kidney damage.
The letter highlights concerns regarding the use of glyoxylic acid in hair treatments, suggesting a potential link to calcium oxalate-induced nephropathy.
Notably, glyoxylic acid has been introduced as an alternative to formaldehyde in hair-straightening products, purportedly safer, but potentially nephrotoxic.
The report urges caution in the use of products containing glyoxylic acid and advocates for their discontinuation from the market.
This warning comes amid previous incidents, such as 26 cases of acute kidney injuries reported in Israel following similar hair-straightening procedures.
