Personal Care Products Council challenges study accuracy on uterine cancer and chemical hair straightening

19 Oct 2022 --- The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is responding to a recent National Institutes of Health study that found women who use chemical hair straightening products have a greater risk of developing uterine cancer than women who do not use these products.

“In the US, cosmetics, including hair straighteners and relaxers, are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act,” says Kimberly Norman, Diplomate American Board of Toxicology, ERT at the PCPC.

PCPC is an advocate for 600 member companies within the global personal care and cosmetics market. Its members account for roughly 90% of the beauty industry in the US.

“A recent study reports the possible association between hair straighteners and the incidence of uterine cancer. A fundamental principle of epidemiology is that association is not the same as causation; one does not necessarily lead to the other,” flags the PCPC.

“The association observed in the study is with people who straighten their hair, not the ingredients in hair products or any specific chemicals, as this data was not collected,” she adds. 

Study limitations?
Norman continues to highlight potential limitations within the study.

“The study does not account for a number of other differences that may be associated with an increased incidence as the ‘uterine cancer cases tended to be older with an earlier age at menarche, a higher body mass index and lower physical activity,’ and notes a stronger association of straightener use among women with low physical activity.”

PCPCP notes that the study conducted on chemical hair straightener use has limitations. These observed associations were largely ignored in the study, she adds.

“Additionally, the study suggests that Black women could be affected more by this observed association of hair straightener use, even though the generated data show ‘no differences in the hazard ratios between racial and ethnic groups.’”

Product safety requirements
In addressing product safety, she adds: “All cosmetics products and their ingredients are subject to safety requirements under the FD&C Act – companies have a legal responsibility to ensure that their products and the ingredients used in them are safe for consumers before they are marketed to the public.”

Norman explains that product safety is also established through strict adherence to the principles of quality assurance and good manufacturing practices. 

“The FDA notes that it is important to follow the directions on the label and inside the package for cosmetics products to ensure that the product performs as intended. By providing accurate information, consumers can make informed choices about the best products available.”

The PCPC and its member companies consider the security of our products and the trust that consumers have in them to be of utmost importance, Norman explains. 

“If our consumers can’t believe in a product and rely on it to do what it says, nothing else matters. Our members are some of the most recognized and trusted beauty and personal care brands today. These companies are committed to ensuring consumer choice and access to safe and effective products that meet the differing needs of individuals,” she concludes. 

By Nicole Kerr