Aaron Hartman, MD (speaker) discusses the FDA's decision to ban formaldehyde in hair products, explains why formaldehyde is used (preservative that alters protein structure), describes its use in hair-straightening products, and warns about toxic effects — particularly triggering allergies, mast cell activation, and dysautonomia/POTS — advising people to avoid formaldehyde-containing personal care products. He also notes the FDA ban was paused due to political changes but hopes it will be reenacted.
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This is really interesting that the FDA is banning formaldehyde in hair products. Now the question I ask myself is why is formaldehyde in the first place in hair products? Formaldehyde actually, when I was in medical school, we actually did dissection on cadavers and they use formaldehyde as a preservative for the body. It actually changes the protein structure of proteins and actually causes a preservative type function. It can be used in hair straightening products, hair different products. The problem with formaldehyde, it's crazy toxic. And if someone has multiple chemical sensitivity, environmental sensitivities, if they have a chronic health issue concern, formaldehyde can be a trigger for mast cell for pots and dysautonomia, it can be a trigger for a bunch of allergies. And if you get your hair treated with it, it can be really bad. So the FDA actually went ahead and put a ban on that, which actually got paused due to some new political administration stuff. Hopefully it'll get reenacted. But the reality is you have to take care of yourself and watch the environment. There's so much stuff out there, particularly female healthcare products, formaldehyde and hair product. I mean, who would have thought that would have been put in there? But it is and you have just gotta watch it and make sure you avoid it.