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| Photo Credit |
Keratin treatments, also known as the Brazilian blowout, are
provided at many salons and are used to reduce frizzy-ness, boost shine and
build strength.
The method begins by applying a liquid form of keratin to
hair where it sits for two hours and is sealed with a flat iron. Keratin is extracted from natural resources such
as animal wool and wood. The results from the treatment generally lasts three months.
While this sounds like a simple trip to the salon, many women do not know that
the keratin treatment uses formaldehyde - a chemical known to cause cancer. Formaldehyde is often used as a preservative and is found in
a lot of household items such as glue and nail polish.
According to the U.S. National Toxicology Program it is “known
to be a human carcinogen.” Extreme exposure can irritate the eyes, mouth, nose and lungs.
“It's not just the risk from the actual application of the
treatment, but from what happens in the months following it, when the chemical
breaks down,” Dr. Ellen Marmur, New York dermatologist said to “The Early
Show".
The treatment promises “shiny, voluminous straight” hair and
generally costs between $150 and $300 dollars said CBS News.
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| Results from a Keratin Treatment. |
“Apparently, noxious fumes are released when it's applied,
posing potential risks to the customer, the person applying it, and even others
in the vicinity,” Marmur said.
There has been
one reported death from the keratin treatment in Brazil in 2007, when a woman
died of asphyxiation after performing the treatment on herself.
Although this treatment might not sound terribly expensive
for all that it offers, the severe health risks, including that of cancer, runs at a higher cost.
Newlin Tillotson and Nathalie Anaya
