In France, the National Agency for Health Safety, Food, Environment and Labor (ANSES) has launched an alert at European level, concerning the side effects of the use of certain Brazilian straightening products. If they contain glyoxylic acid, they can cause kidney failure. In France, the media report that “the general directorate of health and the repression of fraud recommends against” the use, especially since “four cases have been recorded since the start of 2024”.
These same products are also available in Morocco. In the case of France, a scientific study has proven the link between kidney complications and the use of glyoxylic acid, which is included in the composition of “almost all” of the styling formulas in question. Speaking to Franceinfo, Dr Juliette Bloch, director of alerts at ANSES, explains that after passing into the blood, the pinned substance promotes “the formation of small crystals”, which end up blocking the kidneys. By “drinking lots” of water, the crystals become diluted and are more easily eliminated, allowing the kidneys to resume normal function.
Indeed, the media emphasizes that “in most cases, there are no after-effects, but you should quickly consult if you start to feel bad after straightening”, especially since the symptoms appear “within hours which follow » Brazilian straightening. “It can be nausea, abdominal pain, lower back pain. You must then consult your general practitioner, specifying that you have had Brazilian straightening, or call a poison control center,” insists Dr Bloch.
The European Union has the authority to ban the use of glyoxylic acid, which is often found in cosmetic products, or in hair masks, as well as in shampoos that preserve coloring.
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