Relaxers: Hair Today, Tumors Tomorrow?

[DayStar]

Public Service Announcement. This is in no way posted to offend but to enlighten. Thanks .

http://www.myfoxhouston.com//dpp/news/local/120216-hair-today-tumors-tomorrow#.Tz7_XhTMjV4.facebook

 

[southerncitygirl]

DayStar
what about white women who, bleach their hair blonde? in alot of instances bleaching can be more dangerous than a relaxer. i don't like since chris rocks movie good hair all of this emphasis on "us". sure relaxing carries potential health risks but so does conventional skincare, hair care, bodycare, fragrance, cpnventional household cleaning products, non-organic tampons, gmo-food,microwaves/cellphones, etc.....i feel like people need to limit or get rid these things too, i've been doing so for several years now.

 

[sunnieb]

Thanks.

I consider myself enlightened and still very much relaxed!

Next......

 

[*CherryPie*]

Blacks, whites, Asians, latinas, and everybody else...and their grandmas relaxes their hair. Therefore, when I read these types of things, I feel like they are just picking on us again.

 

[DayStar]

Im just posting the article. All questions and attitudes should be directed to the author .

 

[DayStar]

I wouldn't know.

DayStar
what about white women who, bleach their hair blonde? in alot of instances bleaching can be more dangerous than a relaxer. i don't like since chris rocks movie good hair all of this emphasis on "us". sure relaxing carries potential health risks but so does conventional skincare, hair care, bodycare, fragrance, cpnventional household cleaning products, non-organic tampons, gmo-food,microwaves/cellphones, etc.....i feel like people need to limit or get rid these things too, i've been doing so for several years now.

 

[*CherryPie*]

Why do y'all keep posting this kind of nonsense anyway? Are y'all just trying to get people irritated?

OP, the attitudes should be towards YOU. The Author didn't post it on LHCF.

 

[sunnieb]

Why do y'all keep posting this kind of nonsense anyway? Are y'all just trying to get people irritated?

OP, the attitudes should be towards YOU. The Author didn't post it on LHCF.

Girl, I wish I knew. I'm old, so it doesn't bother me. However, I can tell from my PMs some of the newbie relaxed heads feel some kind of way about it and are hesitant to post sometimes.

 

[BostonMaria]

Wow that's crazy!

Thanks for posting OP. Knowledge is power. Its not about relax heads vs naturals its about making a well informed decision and knowing the pros and cons on all the things we put on our bodies. The FDA obviously doesn't care about black women or our health.

 

[DayStar]

No I'm not trying to get anyone irritated, this is a hair board, that's why it was posted. Why the anger directed towards me? I don't even post these articles ever in this forum, but I came across it and it sparked some questions/thoughts of my own. If it offends you then please exit the thread.

Why do y'all keep posting this kind of nonsense anyway? Are y'all just trying to get people irritated?

OP, the attitudes should be towards YOU. The Author didn't post it on LHCF.

 

[DayStar]

Thanks. You got it.

Wow that's crazy!

Thanks for posting OP. Knowledge is power. Its not about relax heads vs naturals its about making a well informed decision and knowing the pros and cons on all the things we put on our bodies. The FDA obviously doesn't care about black women or our health.

 

[Mai Tai]

OP...You could have at least posted your own thoughts/feelings/questions that you say you had after reading this article. It would have sparked or stimulated conversation.

When you just post a link without any further thought or direction, then the thread is bound to go which ever way the wind blows. Just sayin...

 

[My Friend]

I'm confused. Why are we attacking the OP for posting the link?

 

[itsjusthair88]

I'm confused. Why are we attacking the OP for posting the link?

Right...? I hardly post in here, but all she did was post a link to an article that concerns *us* and our health and safety. I didn't have to read the article, I already have heard about it all...but thanks OP for posting this, knowledge is power, even if we don't like what it's about.

 

[southerncitygirl]

DayStar

i wasn't directing any anger at you, know that wasn't my intention.....at this point most people know that anything that we put on our bodies/hair goes into our bloodstream. i was just voicing my frustrations that i feel that the media has a affinity for picking on us and shattering our self-esteem at any cost. my apologies, just frustrated with us being attacked and no one defending us.

 

[mg1979]

I'm confused. Why are we attacking the OP for posting the link?

Apparently if you say anything at all about relaxers people get all kinds of crazy. We are all entitled to our opinions on LHCF until someone says something about relaxers and then you get all kinds of attitude.

 

[choctaw]

FYI ...

Women who get perms or color jobs are probably safe from tumors and cancer. Beauticians are at greater risk for tumors, cancers, etc. because they are exposed to chemicals for long hours several times per week. The risks can be reduced with proper ventilation and sanitation. See article from International Journal of Epidemiology for details:

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/6/1512.full

 

[Evolving78]

I'm confused. Why are we attacking the OP for posting the link?

she posted it as a public service announcement. therefore she agrees with the article. see someone else posted something similar recently and i remember she thanked the article.

 

[Keen]

Apparently if you say anything at all about relaxers people get all kinds of crazy. We are all entitled to our opinions on LHCF until someone says something about relaxers and then you get all kinds of attitude.

Oh come on. Let's not go all relax people bashing. Try saying something negative about natural hair and let's see what type of reaction you get.

Anyway, there are truths to what was posted. People just have to take or leave the information. Very few people will get adverse reaction to relaxing but those who do should be informed when symptoms present themselves.

 

[southerncitygirl]

i'm not relaxed but i'm not a natural nazi either. putting anything on our bodies with chemicals present a huge health risk. i transitioned way before this forum came about. when you think about lye is in drain cleaner.

 

[gabulldawg]

Um yeah... I'll still be getting a touch up in a few weeks.

 

[My Friend]

Are we taking this personally as black women or relaxed hair women? I know many non black women use hair straighteners, brazillian blow outs and relaxers too

 

[Raspberry]

I don't mind that the article was posted but I wish it was more informative. Is there a link for the full study? Even the supplemental link provided at the bottom of the article starts out saying relaxers can cause fibroids but then launches right into the typical discussion about black women needing relaxers to get a job or a man: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/120217-study-causes-hair-scare-about-tumors

This is typical of journalism nowadays, build excitement around a snippet of data without giving a full picture or answering related questions. Like if relaxers can cause fibroids and early puberty doesn't that indicate a hormonal component? Do all relaxers have the same components that can cause these things? Does frequency matter? Percentages?

Guess I'll have to find the study...

 

[naheda72]

I believe this is the same article my mother told me about, that was referenced/ discussed on Tom Joyner. She said that the relaxed women's responses were a little like some of the women here. As a natural, I would be upset if one of the ladies here said something negative about natural hair, but not about a product that was popular among naturals that could cause a health risk. There is no comparison. I really don't see why this is offensive.

 

[gabulldawg]

Are we taking this personally as black women or relaxed hair women? I know many non black women use hair straighteners, brazillian blow outs and relaxers too

I think that's partly the point. "we" are constantly being picked on for using chemical straighteners when many other races use them as well. Gets kind of annoying, ya know? Maybe op can post this article on other message boards as well to make sure the word gets out to everyone.

 

[DayStar]

I dont really care what Becky,Ming Lee and Selena are doing. Im not of them. I however am concerned with shady products aimed to women who look like me.

I think that's partly the point. "we" are constantly being picked on for using chemical straighteners when many other races use them as well. Gets kind of annoying, ya know? Maybe op can post this article on other message boards as well to make sure the word gets out to everyone.

 

[niqu92]

if relaxers really did effect reproductive health then we would see a drastic reduction in the number of black chicks being able to have babies cause most get their touchups every 4wks lol.

but uhhm yeah ima keep relaxing my relaxed hair looks better then 90% of the naturals i see on a day to day basis anyway............

 

[Raspberry]

Ok here's the abstract... Feel free to dissect it on my behalf lol

===============================

Hair Relaxer Use and Risk of Uterine Leiomyomata in African-American Women
Authors
Abstract

Hair relaxers are used by millions of black women, possibly exposing them to various chemicals through scalp lesions and burns. In the Black Women’s Health Study, the authors assessed hair relaxer use in relation to uterine leiomyomata incidence. In 1997, participants reported on hair relaxer use (age at first use, frequency, duration, number of burns, and type of formulation). From 1997 to 2009, 23,580 premenopausal women were followed for incident uterine leiomyomata. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals. During 199,991 person-years, 7,146 cases of uterine leiomyomata were reported as confirmed by ultrasound (n = 4,630) or surgery (n = 2,516). The incidence rate ratio comparing ever with never use of relaxers was 1.17 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.30). Positive trends were observed for frequency of use (Ptrend < 0.001), duration of use (Ptrend = 0.015), and number of burns (Ptrend < 0.001). Among long-term users (≥10 years), the incidence rate ratios for frequency of use categories 3–4, 5–6, and ≥7 versus 1–2 times/year were 1.04 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.19), 1.12 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.27), and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.31), respectively (Ptrend = 0.002). Risk was unrelated to age at first use or type of formulation. These findings raise the hypothesis that hair relaxer use increases uterine leiomyomata risk.

 

[reeko43]

Wow at this thread! Anywho, who wouldn't like to make informed choices? I see nothing wrong with posting an article. This should stimulate conversation and I think it is great that people post their opinions pro and con. Whether OP agrees with the article or not should be irrevelant.

I relaxed for approximately 27 years with no problems. I read the warning messages on relaxers and still relaxed. At least I was aware of the risk. What I did take from this article is that it is really probably not safe to administer perms to children as they are still developing and I can see where the chemicals relaxed during that stage could be potentially harmful and therefore more likely to suffer from the issues outlined in the article. I can also see taking the information and making sure that the relaxer is applied according to the directions and not too often. There are always risks with chemicals and we just have to be careful.

 

[NaturalBeauty<3]

if relaxers really did effect reproductive health then we would see a drastic reduction in the number of black chicks being able to have babies cause most get their touchups every 4wks lol.

but uhhm yeah ima keep relaxing my relaxed hair looks better then 90% of the naturals i see on a day to day basis anyway............

niqu92 LMAOOO! #ShotsFired

chill, bruh. -__-