Does DMDM Hydantoin Cause Hair Loss?

A class action lawsuit was filed against a reputable hair brand recently. The claimants, in their petition, say that the company had not informed about the hazardous effects of using the products. A couple of users had suffered hair loss and burns on scalp after using the product.

As per the claimants’ statements, the products contain DMDM hydantoin, which is a known preservative. It is also a known carcinogenic. In addition, it can cause scalp irritation and contribute to hair loss.

What is DMDM hydantoin?

According to the website of American Chemistry Council, DMDM hydantoin is a white crystalline compound used widely as a preservative in hair care products, skin care products, and makeup products due to its anti-microbial property.

So what’s the big deal?

Well, when you learn that it is antimicrobial and helps to preserve your beloved cosmetics so that they stay fresher for longer, you may think of this compound as friendly.

However, when you learn that this compound releases formaldehyde gas, which is an established scalp irritant and carcinogen, you may be alarmed.

And this very fact has enveloped DMDM hydantoin in a controversy.

Formaldehyde is already under the scanner. Several salon treatments and hair care products contain substances that release this toxic gas. You can easily inhale this gas when styling your hair with the products.

Most women have a habit of visiting salons frequently. Women style their hair almost daily at home. This means you are subjecting yourselves to formaldehyde fumes almost regularly.

It’s the prolonged contact that’s worrying experts.

“You won’t develop cancer, if you inhale formaldehyde gas once in a blue moon,” says an expert from the Council, “but if you love to apply makeup daily or hop into a salon every week or so, you must worry.”

But what about hair loss?

Hair loss is a tricky problem. Most of the time, it is hard to dig into the real cause of hair loss. But yes, if you are habitual of undergoing salon treatments, which are often harsh on hair, you are more likely to experience hair loss sooner or later.

And it’s not just DMDM hydantoin to blame. A lot of factors go into inducing hair loss. Scalp burning, follicle damage, excessive dryness, breaking of cuticles that render hair weak, and exposure to strong chemicals.

This article is to make you aware that cosmetics almost always contain preservatives. You can say they are a necessary evil.

A cosmetic without a preservative would spoil quickly. It would become a breeding ground for bacteria and other microbes.

However, most preservatives release formaldehyde gas.

Yet, you need not despair because, according to researchers, trace amount of formaldehyde is harmless. Continuous exposure is harmful.

Also, if the product manufacturer adheres to the permissible amount of formaldehyde in their products, you need not worry.

Do you know formaldehyde is also present in natural foods like fruits?

So, you need not panic. But yes, always try to use more natural-based products, preferably sulfate-free shampoos that contain more of botanical extracts and less of the chemicals.