Hair dye linked to primary biliary cirrhosis in women

WOMEN who dye their hair may be at increased risk of developing primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), researchers have found.

While smoking was the primary risk factor identified in the UK case-control study of 5000 women, hair dye was associated with a 37% increased risk of PBC.

Women with a previous history of shingles, urinary infections or psoriasis had more than twice the risk of PBC compared to those without a history of these conditions.

The authors said while it was not possible to identify exactly which component of hair dye might be responsible for the association, previous studies had found that several chemicals used in cosmetics, such as octynoic acid, might be responsible for reduced immunotolerance.

Gut 2010; 59:508-12