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Doha – French health authorities have issued an alert regarding the use of Brazilian hair straightening products containing glyoxylic acid, a substance that has been linked to acute kidney injury.
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has advised against the use of these products after receiving four reports of acute kidney failure associated with their application since the beginning of 2024.
The alert, issued jointly by ANSES, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), and the French Ministry of Health, concerns both hairdressers and their clients, as well as individuals applying these products at home.
While the affected individuals have been treated and have since recovered, an investigation is underway to assess the current state of knowledge regarding the renal toxicity of glyoxylic acid when applied to hair.
Brazilian hair straightening treatments have gained global popularity, including in Morocco, for their ability to smooth and straighten curly or frizzy hair without chemically altering its structure, unlike traditional relaxers.
These treatments result in soft, smooth, and shiny hair that is easy to style and maintain for several months.
However, glyoxylic acid, a chemical substance used in certain cosmetics for its straightening properties, has been identified as potentially toxic to the kidneys.
Symptoms of acute kidney failure may appear within hours of exposure to glyoxylic acid and can include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and abdominal or lower back pain.
If such symptoms occur, it is crucial to immediately contact a physician or a poison control center and report the use of a hair straightening product.
This is not the first warning concerning glyoxylic acid in hair straightening treatments.
In March, The New England Journal of Medicine reported the case of a 26-year-old woman hospitalized after using a hair straightening treatment.
The French Academy of Medicine also published a warning about these products in June, noting that the acute kidney failure was linked to the formation of oxalic acid crystals in the renal tubules, induced by the acid absorbed through the scalp and skin during the straightening process.
Pending the conclusions of the ongoing investigation, which may lead to changes in current regulations, French health authorities have advised against the use of straightening products containing glyoxylic acid.
