Studies have shown the danger of birth defects due to the most common female beauty rituals.
For most women, hair plays a huge role in their confidence and style. Approximately 75% of women dye or highlight their hair. What if you are expecting a baby? We have all heard harsh warnings about the dangers of such procedures for the tiny organism growing inside you.
What are the risks? According to Dr. Christina Dean, studies conducted on animals have shown the danger of birth defects. However, the doses used were much higher than those commonly used by women, so it is not yet clear what these data mean for pregnant women. There have also been limited human studies suggesting a link between cancer in children whose mothers dyed their hair during pregnancy.
Are these treatments safe after the first trimester?
Every pregnant woman knows that the first trimester is critical. Although the risks persist throughout pregnancy, how dangerous is hair coloring after 12 weeks? Dr. Dean argues that the risk of hair dye is not yet well defined across trimesters.
Many hairdressers claim that you can dye your hair, but carefully – so that the dye does not touch the skin. Dr. Dean says this opinion is not supported by research, although theoretically, if the paint does not get on the scalp, then it is not absorbed by the skin and does not harm the embryo. By the way, there were studies of hairdressers who worked with paints during pregnancy, and there was no significant difference in the number of birth defects in them and representatives of other professions, Pop Sugar research leads.
What is the verdict?
According to the doctor, there is no exact answer to this question. Some studies show potential risks, while others show that limited use of hair dye during pregnancy is perfectly safe. The doctor recommends, just in case, to postpone such procedures until the baby is born or consult with your doctor.