Teen Hospitalized with Severe Kidney Failure After Hair Straightening
A 14-year-old girl is in intensive care with severe kidney failure following a hair-straightening treatment in northern Israel, marking over 50 similar documented cases nationwide.
A 14-year-old girl from northern Israel is currently hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya after suffering severe kidney damage following a hair-straightening procedure at a well-known salon.
The procedure took place last Tuesday at a veteran salon in the Galilee. Before the treatment, the girl's parents asked to ensure that the straightening product did not contain glyoxylic acid, which has been linked to numerous cases of kidney damage in recent years. They were assured that the product was safe and approved by the Ministry of Health. However, medical experts note that the clinical picture strongly points to a connection between the exposure and the renal failure.
Rapid Onset and Deterioration
Just an hour after the procedure, the girl began feeling ill, suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting, and scalp irritation. Upon arriving at the emergency room, she already showed signs of acute kidney failure, with her creatinine levels spiking from a normal 0.5 to 1.7.
"We checked other possibilities, such as kidney inflammation, but found no signs in blood tests or ultrasounds," said Dr. Yulia Weisbord, a senior physician in pediatric nephrology. "Given the proximity of the events and the clinical picture, the straightening is the most likely cause."
Although she does not currently require dialysis, doctors warn that permanent kidney damage remains a risk. Dr. Yoav Hoffman, director of pediatric intensive care, noted that she might face lifelong dialysis or even a kidney transplant in the future.
A Widespread Phenomenon in Israel
This incident follows a series of similar cases across Israel involving severe kidney complications linked to hair-straightening treatments. Recent months have seen hospitalizations of teenagers and women in Tel Aviv, Hadera, Haifa, Jerusalem, and the Sharon region. Overall, more than 50 cases of kidney damage following hair-straightening procedures have been documented in Israel in recent years.
Medical professionals urge extreme caution, warning teenagers and parents against taking unnecessary cosmetic risks driven by social media trends. Experts advise strict adherence to Ministry of Health guidelines, avoiding treatments on irritated scalps, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or changes in urination occur after a procedure.
