being pregnant and hair..........

jaimealmostRN · Aug 12, 2004

while the dye is sitting, go out side for fresh air. That is what I did. I'm sure the chemicals on your scalp is bad, but inhaling can be worse (espacially for us "blondes") so I put the color on, and sat out-side until rinse time. You can do this at the salon too, just grab a mag on your way out.

This is exactly what I've heard also. A doc (OB) on Oprah from U. Mass. quoted some references saying it was OK to dye hair in pregnancy, but that the chemicals in the air (nails, bleach, perming chemicals) as some one else stated are the dangerous part. Where I get my hair done (q 4 wks :uhoh3: ) there was one stylist who was pregnant and continued to bleach her hair quite often. She said her OB said it was OK and every other stylist she had known had done it with their pregnancys. Happy highlighting!

uk_nurse · Aug 13, 2004

Thanks for the advice.i'm still deciding what to do. will ask my midwife too.

Energizer Bunny · Aug 13, 2004

I did it every pregnancy with my dr and midwives blessings. I was getting antsy and they told me to go dye my hair if I wanted! LOL! I think from everything I read, the concerns that USED to be were mostly in the first trimester and you are beyond that now. Have a ball!!! I love to change my "identity" every so often and it helps with the boredom.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 13, 2004

I personally would hold off til the pregnancy is over. At least ask your doctor about this first.

Nurse Jeni · Aug 13, 2004

Hair dye leads to bladder cancer?!?!?!?!?!?

I think adding the word "may" into that sentence is better. Here, here and here are some interesting, but not conclusive, short articles on studies about hair dyes. The risk appears greater for those who'd been coloring pre-1980s, used dark colors or worked with the coloring products daily.

Perhaps I should consider semi-perm/rinses...or go blonde! :chuckle

PennyLane, RN · Aug 13, 2004

Hair dye leads to bladder cancer?!?!?!?!?!?

It's been implicated.

From the American Cancer Society Website:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Study_Finds_Possible_Link_Between_Hair_Dye_and_Bladder_Cancer_.asp

Study Finds Possible Link Between Hair Dye and Bladder Cancer

Article date: 2001/02/02

Women who regularly use permanent hair dye may increase their risk of bladder cancer, according to the results of a study in the Feb. 1 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

The study also looked at occupational exposure ? barbers and salon workers who use dyes. Though this study is the first to look at how often people are exposed to hair dye and their risk of developing bladder cancer, Manuela Gago-Dominguez, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles, says, "Unfortunately, at this moment we do not have the necessary information to make a recommendation to the public."

"In our study we have found an association between hair dye use and bladder cancer, which does not necessarily mean that hair dye use is a major cause of bladder cancer," says Gago-Dominguez

Gago-Dominguez and her colleagues compared 897 patients with bladder cancer who used hair dye, with a similar number of adults without bladder cancer. The researchers found that the women who used permanent hair dye at least once a month were twice as likely as women who did not use permanent hair dye to develop bladder cancer. These results held true whether or not the women smoked. Smoking is the greatest risk factor for bladder cancer.

Women who reported using permanent hair dye at least once a month for 15 years were three times more likely to have bladder cancer, and subjects who worked for 10 or more years as hairdressers or barbers were five times more likely to have bladder cancer compared to individuals not exposed, according to the study.

"We hope that our study can serve as an impetus to resume the lines of research that are needed for the resolution of this important public health issue," Gago-Dominguez says.

Trade association disagrees with findings

But John Corbett, PhD, spokesperson for the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, a trade association, points out that "several larger continuing studies have not shown increases in bladder cancer risk, including studies by the American Cancer Society of more than 570,000 women and a study at Harvard University of about 120,000 women."

Corbett also criticizes the study for not asking the appropriate questions about hair dye use. "The only things they asked about were frequency of use and duration of use," says Corbett, who notes that the most important factor in exposure is the shade that is used.

"All permanent hair colors use the same basic ingredients, but darker shades have about 100 times more chemicals than the lightest blonde shade," he explains. "The shade used is the most important measure of exposure to chemicals, not the number of times the hair dye was used," he says.

"No chemicals in hair dyes currently on the market have been found to cause cancers in laboratory animals," says Corbett.

"I think that this study is out of line with the findings of other studies," says Michael Thun, MD, vice president of epidemiology and surveillance for the American Cancer Society (ACS) and a researcher on the large ACS study.

"If the use of permanent hair dye is a risk factor, it is an extremely weak risk factor," Thun says, "so whether someone continues to dye their hair might depend on the way they deal with risk."

He suggests that people could either avoid using hair dyes, use the dyes for a shorter duration, use lighter shades, or reduce their skin contact with the dye. He also suggests that people could focus on eliminating behaviors that are more strongly suspected to cause bladder cancer, such as smoking or physical inactivity, rather than changing their hair dye use.

"People should base their decisions on their own judgment and value systems," he says.

NeuroICURN · Aug 15, 2004

I actually read something the other day that was JUST published about the link between hair coloring and certain types of leukemia.....and it was coloring your hair as little as once a year! Yikes! I'm screwed! LOL LOL

I'll have to find the article when I have time!

LTC_LPN · Aug 15, 2004

Funny story....and totally true: when I was 7 months pregnant, I had my hair highlighted at the beauty shop. I did sit outside in fresh air a bit while the goo was on my head. Strangely tho, when my daughter was born 2 months later, she had the prettiest "natural" highlights in her hair! She had a head FULL of dark, dark brown hair with very blonde streaks! And I have the baby pictures to prove it. I know there's no possible way it's related....but it's strange!

uk_nurse · Aug 16, 2004

i thought i would ask the paeds docs on my ward.one of them went to do a bit of research for me.which was so kind of her. she was interested herself. on coming back she said there is no evidence either way, but as advice she would avoid it. so i have decided not to dye my hair. thanks all to those who have replied. :)