[HAIR STRAIGHTENING - NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD].

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Toxicology
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Hair straightening products, even those labeled "formaldehyde-free," may contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and glycolic acid.
• Formaldehyde and glycolic acid can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) through mechanisms including oxidative stress, direct cellular damage, and oxalate deposition.
• The increasing use of hair straightening among younger individuals raises concerns about potential health risks, particularly kidney damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present three cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) in female teenagers following hair straightening procedures.
• To highlight the potential nephrotoxicity of chemicals found in hair straightening products.
• To raise awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the risks associated with these products in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Case series presentation of three female teenagers diagnosed with AKI.
• Review of clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and kidney biopsy results (where available).
• Analysis of treatment response, including the role of acute dialysis.

Main Results:

• All three patients presented with features of acute tubular damage after hair straightening.
• Kidney biopsies revealed acute tubular necrosis (ATN), with one case showing oxalate deposition and another unidentified deposits.
• Two patients required acute dialysis, which led to rapid improvement in kidney function, suggesting clearance of a nephrotoxic agent.

Conclusions:

• Hair straightening procedures can pose a significant risk of AKI in adolescents, even with products claiming to be formaldehyde-free.
• Prompt identification and intervention, such as dialysis, can be crucial in managing and potentially reversing chemically induced AKI.
• Increased clinical suspicion for hair straightening product-related nephrotoxicity is warranted in pediatric patients presenting with AKI.