Health Ministry Warns Against Hair Straightening Product After Teen Hospitalized
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health is warning the public about the hair straightening product "DRAGONFLY" after a teenager was hospitalized with kidney damage. The product's license was revoked, and it is no longer in the ministry's database. A committee found a link between glycolic acid in hair straighteners and kidney damage, leading to a ban on such products from February 2026. The ministry advises using only licensed salons and legally marketed products.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Health Ministry warns against "DRAGONFLY" hair product after teen's kidney damage hospitalization.
- Product "DRAGONFLY" falsely claims Ministry of Health license; its license was revoked.
- Glycolic acid in hair straighteners linked to severe kidney damage, banned from Feb 2026.
- Ministry advises using licensed salons and legally marketed, database-verified cosmetics.
- Treatments on children under 16 and damaged scalps are discouraged.
Israel's Ministry of Health has issued a warning against the use, marketing, and distribution of the hair straightening product "DRAGONFLY" following the hospitalization of a teenager with kidney damage after using it at a home salon. The ministry is urging an immediate halt to its use and sale.
An investigation by the Ministry of Health revealed that the product's label falsely claims it is "licensed by the Ministry of Health." In reality, the product's license was revoked at the manufacturer's request, and it is no longer listed in the ministry's cosmetics database. The manufacturer has not yet responded to the ministry's inquiries regarding the incident.
This case follows several other hospitalizations reported to the ministry in the past two months after hair straightening treatments. A professional expert committee has established a clear causal link between hair straightening products containing glycolic acid and severe kidney damage. Consequently, the ministry has canceled licenses for cosmetics with this ingredient, and their sale and use will be prohibited in Israel starting February 2026. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is also banned in Israeli cosmetics.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes the seriousness of the situation, cautioning that using illegally marketed hair straightening products or those with prohibited ingredients poses a significant public health risk. The ministry advises consumers and salon owners to cease using "DRAGONFLY" immediately and to avoid purchasing or marketing it. It recommends seeking hair straightening services only at licensed salons, verifying that products are legally marketed and listed in the ministry's database, and ensuring product labeling matches the database information.
Further recommendations include avoiding treatments on damaged or irritated scalps, applying products at least 1.5 cm from the scalp in well-ventilated areas, and refraining from performing these treatments on children and adolescents under 16. The ministry stresses that altering product composition, such as adding glycolic acid or formaldehyde, or diluting them, is a serious health hazard and a criminal offense, as it invalidates safety assessments and can expose users to unknown concentrations of dangerous substances.
In case of unusual symptoms after hair straightening, such as significantly reduced or absent urination, swelling, nausea, vomiting, severe fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion, or clouded consciousness, immediate medical attention is required. Patients should inform medical staff about the product used, if known. The ministry is continuing its investigation and will provide further updates.
Mentioned
