Permanent hair dyes linked to breast cancer, study says

NEW YORK – Two common beauty products -- permanent hair dyes and chemical straighteners -- may be associated with an elevated risk for breast cancer.

The study published in the International Journal of Cancer tracked more than 46,000 women over several years.

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Overall, women using permanent dye had a 9% higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Black women who used permanent dye had a 45 percent higher risk of breast cancer, compared to non-users.

And those who used these products every eight weeks or more often had a 60 percent higher risk.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and recruited breast-cancer free women whose sisters had been diagnosed with the disease.

Women in the study ranged in age from 35 to 74.

Researchers say more research is needed.