The Medical University of Vienna study, which included 117,200 U.S. women, was the largest study examining the effect of the chemicals in hair dye. The results, published in BMJ on Sept. 2, ended up showing “hardly an increased risk for most types of cancers—with exceptions.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb But over the course of the study, researchers happened upon evidence that suggests women with naturally darker hair are at an increased risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma–cancer of the lymphatic system—while women with naturally lighter hair are at an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma—a type of skin cancer. More than one-third of women over the age of 18 and about 10 percent of men over 40 use hair dye, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Over 5,000 different chemicals are used in hair dye products, some of which are reported to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in animals,” per the NCI. Since hair dye is so widely used, experts have long been concerned about the potential health hazards that could come with all these chemicals. This newly published study does not completely prove that hair dye is safe, but it may bring some relief to women who regularly dye their hair. Of course, the research also suggests that natural hair color carries cancer risks of its own. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. It’s important to note that the study has shortcomings, as it was only conducted on white American women, which means these findings may not pertain to other groups of people. The researchers emphasized the need for further studies on a more diverse population outside of the U.S. to gain a deeper understanding of women’s hair colors as they pertain to cancer risk. And for more on the link between your hair and your overall health, find out 13 Things Your Hair Is Trying to Tell You About Your Health.
