Chemical relaxers and curlers: Hidden danger

Introduction: Hair is the most noticeable part of one's beauty and enhances individual's personality. Hair loss is largely the result of genetics and hormones, however, lifestyle (hair colouring, fashion etc.) and environmental factors such as hair styling, eating habits and chemical exposure has major role. As more women are embracing their natural hair by exposing them to chemical relaxers resulting in an untold havoc with our physical health. Aims and Objectives: To examine the patients undergoing repeated chemical relaxing and curling Methodology: A cross-sectional observational hospital based study was carried out on purposively selected patients diagnosed with telogen effluvium. Forty seven patients of either sex, aged between 18 to 50 yrs those who had undergone relaxing and curling more than once over a period of 12 months Result: Out of 47 patients diagnosed to have hair fall, 13 were male and 34 were female. 49% belonged to the age group of 25-31 years. 42% of patients applied relaxers up to 4 times while 7% used up to 10 times. The commonest adverse events associated with the use of chemical hair relaxers were hair loss (61%), dry hair (45%), dandruff (20%), thinning of hair (30%), greying of hair (25%) and split ends in only (15%). Conclusion: Hair fall, lack of hair growth, hair breakage, hair thinning, scalp irritation are the main adverse effects faced due to the continuous use of hair relaxers and curlers. However, chemical hair relaxers have been know to cause adverse effects is not a false belief and affected the society badly.Therefore one should be very careful while using and applying any sort of chemical to your hairs.