Cosmetic products

L'Anses alerts on hair smoothing products

Publié le 06 novembre 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Safety (ANSES) advises against the use of glyoxylic acid products used to smooth hair, following 4 reports since the beginning of 2024.

As a precautionary measure, ANSES, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) and the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) informed in a october 16, 2024 news release hairdressing professionals, cosmetics retailers and users, on the potential dangers of glyoxylic acid smoothing products. This follows several reports of acute renal failure in relation to such products.

Glyoxylic acid is a chemical used in certain cosmetic products for its smoothing properties.

Pending the conclusions of these institutions, ANSES advises against using these products and engages expertise for a development of European regulations and a more advanced framework of the use of this substance in cosmetology.

Signs of kidney failure develop hours after exposure to glyoxylic acid. They manifest themselves as:

  • abdominal or back pain;
  • nausea and/or vomiting.

If you experience such symptoms, you should promptly consult a doctor or call a poison control center, indicating that you have been in contact with a smoothing agent.

FYI  

Service-Public.fr reminds you of the numbers of the poison centers in the territory:

  • Angers: 02 41 48 21 21.
  • Bordeaux: 05 56 96 40 80.
  • Lille: 08 00 59 59 59.
  • Lyon: 04 72 11 69 11.
  • Marseille: 04 91 75 25 25.
  • Nancy: 03 83 22 50 50.
  • Paris: 01 40 05 48 48.
  • Toulouse: 05 61 77 74 47.

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