Hair straightening may damage kidneys, finds a study; Woman suffers kidney failure, skin burn after straightening
kidney damage following a hair-straightening treatment at a salon. The identity of the woman has been kept confidential in the study.
According to the study, the 26-year-old woman underwent the popular hair treatment in June 2020, April 2021, and July 2022. Despite having no prior health concerns, she began experiencing adverse symptoms after each visit to the salon, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and back pain. Additionally, she reported a burning sensation on her scalp during the treatment and developed ulcers on her head.
Upon examination, doctors observed kidney malfunction indicated by elevated levels of creatinine in her blood and the presence of blood in her urine. Although a CT scan revealed no signs of infection or blockage in her kidneys, her symptoms persisted.
The woman disclosed to the doctors that her hair had been treated with a straightening cream containing glyoxylic acid, which led the doctors to suspect that this chemical was responsible for her scalp burning and ulceration.
Further investigation, including experiments on mice, led the doctors to theorize that the glyoxylic acid was absorbed through her skin and subsequently reached her kidneys, resulting in damage upon breakdown.
The study identified the woman as suffering from recurrent episodes of acute kidney injury due to oxalate nephropathy, a rare disorder characterized by a decrease in kidney function caused by the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney tubules. The findings strongly suggest that glyoxylic acid used
