Hair Straightening and Acute Kidney Injury: A Case Series from a Medical Toxicology Service
August 2025
in “
Clinical Toxicology
”
TLDR Hair-straightening products with glyoxylic acid may cause kidney damage.
This case series investigates the potential link between hair straightening treatments and acute kidney injury (AKI). The study was conducted by a team from various medical institutions, including Sourasky Medical Center and The Hospital for Sick Children. The researchers observed several cases where individuals developed AKI following the use of hair straightening products. The findings suggest a possible association between the chemicals used in these treatments and kidney damage, highlighting the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and to establish safety guidelines for the use of such products.