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Hair Loss News Archives
December 2010
10 hair straightening products centre of Health Canada warning
The products, which are professional grade have been linked to hair loss
Dec 2010
Health Canada has put a stop-sale order on 10 hair-straightening
products after they were found to contain excessive levels of
formaldehyde.
The products, which are professional-grade and available in hair
salons and typically not available to the public, have been linked
to hair loss, watery eyes and other symptoms consistent with
overexposure to formaldehyde.
Consumer complaints included reports of burning eyes, nose, and
throat and breathing difficulties.
The order, which means providers should stop using the products
immediately, was issued Friday evening.
Health Canada received at least 30 adverse-reaction reports to the
use of the products. No deaths have been reported.
The Canada Border Service Agency has been advised to turn away the
products, which originate in the United States, if they arrive at
the border.
The affected products are: Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Advanced
Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Chocolate Extreme De-Frizzing
Treatment; Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy; Global Keratin Taming
System Strawberry; Global Keratin Taming System with Juvexin
Strawberry Resistant; Global Keratin Taming System with Juvexin
Strawberry Light Wave; Pro-Collagen RX Keratin Treatment; IStraight
Keratin (Advanced Keratin Treatment); Brazilian Thermal
Reconstruction.
The highest formaldehyde content was at seven per cent, while the
lowest content among the affected products was 1.4 per cent, Health
Canada said. Cosmetics are permitted in Canada to have up to 0.2 per
cent formaldehyde for use as a preservative.
In October, high formaldehyde levels were discovered in Brazilian
Blowout solution, another hair smoothing agent which is also
available at Canadian hair salons.
Health Canada tests indicated the solution had 12 per cent
formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a known irritant and has links to cancer when
inhaled over a long time period.
Source