'Brazilian blow-dry treatment ruined my health'

A former hairdresser claims she has been left with breathing difficulties and unable to work after years of carrying out Brazilian blow-drying treatments.

Louisa Curtis, 55, from Milton Keynes, said she has suffered burns to her respiratory system from formaldehyde gases being released during straightening clients' hair for many years.

She did not know why her health was deteriorating but said her GP had recently linked her long-term symptoms to these treatments.

"My health is now in an unbelievable state. I live with constant pain; I struggle with mobility and can barely walk up the stairs," she said.

Brazilian blow-drying treatments, which involve applying keratin formula to the hair, are widely used to reduce frizz and strengthen hair.

Curtis recalled how she was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after carrying out a hair-smoothing treatment in March.

She said healthcare staff told her she had suffered burns to her respiratory system caused by exposure to the gas.

The discovery finally provided her with an explanation for years of unexplained illness.

"Looking back, I started getting symptoms that affected every part of my life not long after I began carrying out these treatments [regularly in 2008]," said Curtis.

They included headaches, breathing difficulties, chest pain, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, bone growths on her head, swollen joints, joint pain, memory problems, eye irritation and severe mobility issues.

She said she underwent numerous medical investigations, but until March nobody had been able to fully explain why her health had deteriorated.

The government has introduced stricter labelling requirements for cosmetic products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

The changes were intended to improve consumer protection, particularly for individuals already sensitised to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde was banned as a cosmetic ingredient by EU legislation published in 2019.

It applied to both the EU and the UK.

However, some preservatives that release small amounts of the chemical are still permitted under certain conditions.

Recent rule changes have significantly lowered the threshold requiring a formaldehyde warning label, from 0.05% (500 parts per million) to 0.001% (10 parts per million) of free formaldehyde in the finished product.

The UK Health Security Agency advises that the general public may be exposed to formaldehyde through contact with consumer products that contain it.

It states low level exposure from the correct use of these products would not be expected to cause adverse health effects.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association said: "Safety of the products and their ingredients is at the core of cosmetics legislation.

"The law ensures that cosmetic products are made in a hygienic and well-controlled environment and they must not be likely to experience harmful microbial contamination.

"It restricts the ingredients that are allowed to be used and bans dangerous ingredients."

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