title: Chemical hair relaxers have adverse effects a myth or reality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hair plays an important role in one's personality and builds confidence. Now-a-days, chemical hair relaxers are used very commonly in the society. We document the adverse effects reported by the sample that have used any one of the professional chemical hair relaxers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the adverse effects reported by the sample who underwent repeated chemical hair relaxing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire based study done on a sample taken from a medical college and hospital campus in Mangalore.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was restricted to females and to those who underwent it more than once. A questionnaire was given to a sample of 90, which matched our criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  SPSS software 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adverse effects reported by the sample after undergoing the procedure were found to be a high 95.56%, out of which the following are the common adverse effects reported; frizzy hair in 67%, dandruff in 61%, hair loss in 47%, thinning and weakening of hair in 40%, greying of hair 22%, and split ends in only 17%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Very few studies have been conducted on the adverse effects of hair straightening products in India. From our study, it can be stated that most of the samples had adverse effects, which was as high as 95.56%. Hence from the details elicited from this study, we can conclude that, usage of chemical hair relaxers does cause adverse effects and is "not a myth." Thus, it is necessary to make available a less harmful chemical hair relaxer to the society.
authors: Department of Dermatology, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Vinma H
authors: VH
authors: Shetty
authors: Narendra J
authors: NJ
authors: Shetty
authors: Dhanya Gopinath
authors: DG
authors: Nair
keywords: Adverse effects; chemical hair relaxers; hair loss
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