Hair dye can Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer in Women

Women should be careful before dying their hair or using hormonal contraceptives because they can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Researcher Sanna Heikkinen from the University of Helsinki in Finland and the Finnish Cancer Registry assessed the role of hormonal contraceptives and hair dyes in the risk factors for breast cancer.

"The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is age, lifestyle factors include first-time childbearing, alcohol use and passive lifestyle," he said.

Photo: MDGovpics / Openverse/flickr (BY)

The researchers analyzed survey data from 8,000 breast cancer patients and 20,000 control subjects in Finland. The results indicate that the use of hormonal contraceptives is associated with a 32% higher risk of breast cancer in women under age 50 than in those who do not. The team also investigated the number of mammograms, which are thought to be very common. More than 60% of respondents said that they had screened mammograms before the recommended screening age (50 years). The researchers noted that women should be more widely informed about the harmful effects of mammography such as radiation accumulation and the potential consequences of false positives or false negatives.