A woman suffered kidney damage after undergoing hair-straightening treatment at a salon, as reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. The 26-year-old woman, who visited the salon for the popular hair treatment in June 2020, April 2021, and July 2022, experienced recurrent episodes of acute kidney injury after each visit. She developed symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and back pain, along with a burning sensation on her scalp and ulcers on her head during the treatment.

Upon examination, doctors found raised levels of creatinine in her blood and blood in her urine, indicating kidney malfunction. Further investigation revealed that the hair-straightening cream used on her contained glyoxylic acid, which likely caused her scalp to burn and ulcerate. The acid was theorized to have been absorbed through her skin and reached her kidneys, causing damage upon breakdown.

The study concluded that the woman suffered from recurrent acute kidney injury due to oxalate nephropathy, a rare disorder caused by the build-up of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney tubules. The findings suggest that glyoxylic acid used in hair-straightening procedures is responsible for the damage.

Dr. Joshua David King, an associate professor of medicine and pharmacy at the University of Maryland, suggested banning the use of glyoxylic acid in these products and urged manufacturers to find a safer alternative. The case highlights the need for stricter regulations and safer compounds in hair-straightening products to prevent similar incidents in the future.