Hair Relaxer Use and The Risk Associated for African American Women

Hair Relaxers are used by millions of black women, this treatment exposes women to chemicals through scalp lesions and burns.  Several studies have proven that hair relaxer use increases uterine leiomyomata risk.

Ingredients used in relaxers are "lye" relaxers is sodium hydroxide; no-lye relaxers contain calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate, and "thio" relaxers contain thioglycolic acid salts. 

Uterine leiomyomata are tumors of the myometrium that are responsive to estrogens and progesterone.  Although benign, uterine leiomyomata are associated with signifigant morbidity and are leading indication for hysterectomy in the US.