What We Know About the Link Between Hair Dye and Cancer

Q. I color my hair regularly, but I’ve heard that permanent hair dye can increase the risk of cancer. Should I be worried?

Scientists have been looking into the association between hair dye and cancer for decades. And while some research suggests a link, the findings are mixed, making it hard to offer foolproof recommendations, said Alexandra White, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Still, a closer look at the research could help you make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your hair style.

What Studies Suggest

Much of the research on hair dye has focused on its possible connection to bladder cancer — particularly among hairdressers exposed at work to permanent dyes made before the 1980s, said Dr. David J. Goldberg, a researcher and dermatologist in New York City. The longer the hairdressers worked and were exposed via their skin or lungs, the more likely they were to develop bladder cancer.

But other studies have not found this increased risk, which could be because manufacturers began producing less toxic formulations after the 1970s.

Breast cancer does seem to be associated with permanent hair dye, though, Dr. White said. In a 2019 study involving more than 46,000 women, Dr. White and her colleagues found that those who used permanent hair dye frequently (every five to eight weeks) had a 9 percent higher risk of breast cancer than those who didn’t use hair dye.

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