Israel Ministry of Health Warns Against Dangerous Hair-Smoothing Product
The Israeli Ministry of Health issued an urgent warning against the "DRAGONFLY" hair-smoothing product after a teenager was hospitalized with kidney injury.
The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent public warning demanding the immediate halt of any use, marketing, or distribution of the hair-smoothing product "DRAGONFLY." The unusual warning follows a severe incident involving a teenage girl hospitalized with acute kidney injury after undergoing a hair-straightening treatment at a home salon using this specific product.
An internal investigation revealed a concerning deception: the product label claims it holds a Ministry of Health license, but the cosmetic license was previously revoked at the manufacturer's request and is no longer approved in Israel. The ministry contacted the manufacturer for a response, but received no reply.
This case adds to a series of worrying events over the past two months, where several female patients required hospitalization following hair-straightening treatments. An expert committee established a clear causal link between products containing glyoxylic acid and acute kidney injury.
Consequently, the Ministry of Health revoked the licenses of all cosmetics containing this substance. Since February 2026, their marketing, sale, and use have been completely banned in Israel, alongside the existing ban on formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
The ministry stresses that adding prohibited substances or altering product formulas constitutes a serious health hazard and a criminal offense. Consumers are urged to verify that cosmetics appear in the official ministry database before undergoing treatments at licensed salons.
