Breaking Update
Third Kidney Failure Case Linked to Hair Straightening Reported in Two Months
Shaare Zedek Medical Center reports a third kidney failure case linked to hair straightening in two months, with a 19-year-old hospitalized.
Jerusalem, 1 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem has treated a 19-year-old girl for kidney failure linked to hair straightening, marking the third such case in two months. The girl experienced a burning sensation on her scalp, followed by nausea and weakness, and was hospitalized after tests showed significant kidney deterioration.
Prof. Linda Shavit of the hospital’s Nephrology Institute, who led a national study connecting kidney failure to hair straighteners containing glyoxylic acid, said: “We are seeing a worrying increase in cases of young women hospitalized with acute renal failure simply because of hair straightening.” She urged caution, emphasizing that products should be approved by the Ministry of Health and applied carefully.
