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Hairdresser's health ruined by Brazilian blow-dry fumes
6 Aug
Summary
- A hairdresser developed breathing issues after years of Brazilian blow-drying.
- Formaldehyde gas exposure caused burns to her respiratory system.
- Stricter rules now mandate formaldehyde warnings on cosmetic products.
Louisa Curtis, a 55-year-old former hairdresser from Milton Keynes, reports debilitating health issues, including breathing difficulties and chronic pain, stemming from years of administering Brazilian blow-drying treatments. She states that exposure to formaldehyde gases released during these keratin-based hair-straightening services caused burns to her respiratory system.
Curtis experienced a variety of escalating symptoms since she regularly began the treatments in 2008. These included headaches, fatigue, rashes, memory problems, and severe mobility issues. Her condition was finally linked to the treatments in March when she was hospitalized for breathing difficulties.
In response to such health concerns, the government has introduced stricter labelling requirements for cosmetic products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. While formaldehyde itself is banned in cosmetics, certain preservatives that release small amounts are still permitted. Recent rule changes significantly lowered the threshold for requiring a formaldehyde warning label to 0.001%.
