Beauty Treatment Sparks Kidney Damage Alert

A routine visit to the salon turned into a nightmare for a 26-year-old woman, as she suffered kidney damage following a hair-straightening treatment. The incident, spotlighted in The New England Journal of Medicine, highlights the perilous consequences associated with certain beauty products.

The young woman, previously healthy, underwent hair-straightening procedures at her local salon on several occasions between June 2020 and July 2022. However, after each session, she began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, and back pain. Additionally, she felt a burning sensation on her scalp during the treatments, leading to the development of ulcers.

Medical attention was sought when tests revealed elevated levels of creatinine in her blood—a sign of kidney malfunction. Further examinations unveiled blood in her urine, prompting doctors to conduct a CT scan, which yielded no evidence of infection or kidney blockages.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the hair-straightening cream used contained glyoxylic acid, a chemical notorious for causing skin irritation. Experiments on mice suggested that this acid, absorbed through the skin, could have migrated to the kidney, causing damage upon breakdown.

The study concluded that the woman suffered from acute kidney injury due to oxalate nephropathy—a rare disorder characterized by the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney tubules—likely induced by glyoxylic acid.

Dr Joshua David King, an associate professor of medicine and pharmacy at the University of Maryland, emphasized the urgency for regulatory action. He stated, “It would seem wise to ban the use of glyoxylic acid in these products and request that manufacturers find another, safer compound.”

Hair straightening, a technique dating back to the 1890s, has long been favored for its ability to create sleek, smooth hair. However, this alarming incident underscores the critical need for safety and oversight within the beauty industry. It serves as a poignant reminder that seemingly harmless beauty treatments can carry significant risks, necessitating stringent regulations to safeguard consumer health and well-being.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The News 9 Live