Teen Hospitalized With Kidney Failure After Hair Straightening Treatment

A 16-year-old girl from Tel Aviv was hospitalized at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon after suffering from kidney failure following a hair straightening treatment at a home salon. The teenager began experiencing general weakness, abdominal pain, and nausea just hours after the procedure.

Upon arrival at the emergency room, she underwent a series of tests that revealed acute kidney failure. "The 16-year-old arrived in mild condition a few hours after undergoing hair straightening," said Dr. Meital Keidar, director of pediatric nephrology at Wolfson. "She complained of weakness, with abdominal pain and nausea. Although kidney function was initially normal, in the following hours, kidney function levels rose to twice the normal rate, and even more."

Wolfson Medical Center is the first hospital in Israel to report a case of kidney failure resulting from a hair straightening treatment. Dr. Keidar noted that in the past two years, many products that previously had Ministry of Health approval have had their licenses revoked, yet they are still being sold. She emphasized the importance of undergoing such treatments only at licensed and approved establishments and checking the list of approved products on the Ministry of Health website.