Three hospitalizations within just two months are raising concern among doctors in Jerusalem. A 19-year-old woman was recently hospitalized at Shaare Zedek Medical Center after developing acute kidney failure shortly after undergoing hair straightening. This is the third case in a short period involving young women with no underlying medical conditions who were hospitalized following a cosmetic hair treatment.
The patient arrived at the emergency department after experiencing a burning sensation on her scalp immediately after the procedure, followed by weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Blood tests revealed a significant deterioration in kidney function, and she was admitted to the Internal Medicine A department for treatment and close medical monitoring.
How can hair straightening lead to kidney failure?
Medical teams at Shaare Zedek emphasize that this was not an isolated incident. Over the past two months, a 25-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl were also hospitalized at the medical center with varying degrees of kidney failure after undergoing hair straightening. All three patients were previously healthy and had no known chronic illnesses.
Dr. Zagal Hamza, a senior physician in Internal Medicine A, said the patient “arrived with impaired kidney function after hair straightening. She was hospitalized for monitoring, treated with intravenous fluids, and discharged in good condition.” He noted that in some cases, kidney function does not recover immediately and requires continued follow-up.
What does the head of nephrology at Shaare Zedek say?
Prof. Linda Sheavit, Head of the Institute of Nephrology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, warned that the growing number of cases is alarming. “We are seeing a worrying increase in the number of women hospitalized with acute kidney failure after hair straightening,” she said. “All three patients treated at Shaare Zedek in the past two months were young women with no prior medical conditions, whose kidney injury was caused solely by the hair straightening procedure.”
According to Prof. Sheavit, some patients return to the emergency department even after discharge. “In several cases, kidney function does not stabilize as quickly as expected, and patients require additional medical evaluation,” she added.
What did the Israeli study reveal?
Prof. Sheavit, together with Dr. Alon Bania from the Institute of Nephrology at Shaare Zedek, led a nationwide study that examined 26 cases over three years involving women hospitalized with kidney failure following hair straightening. The study was the first in the world to establish a direct link between kidney failure and hair straightening products containing glyoxylic acid.
Based on the study’s findings, Israel’s Ministry of Health revoked the licenses of dozens of cosmetic products containing glyoxylic acid about three years ago. Following similar cases reported abroad, Switzerland and France also issued public warnings. Since the study was published, more than 50 related cases have been reported in Israel.
What should women check before hair straightening?
Prof. Sheavit stressed that risks can be reduced only by strict adherence to safety guidelines. “Women considering hair straightening should ensure the product is approved by the Ministry of Health, that it does not come into contact with the scalp, and that salons follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely,” she said.
She concluded with a clear warning: “If a burning sensation occurs during the procedure, the product must be removed immediately. Health comes first. There is no reason for a visit to a hair salon to end with hospitalization.”
