A 17-year-old girl was hospitalized with kidney failure after getting her hair straightened at an unlicensed salon.

(haipo) A 17-year-old girl from the Krayot area was hospitalized last week at Bnei Zion Medical Center after suffering from severe abdominal pain and vomiting, which developed shortly after a hair straightening treatment performed at an unlicensed salon. Tests revealed that the girl is suffering from kidney failure, likely due to exposure to a dangerous substance.

Rapid diagnosis in pediatric emergency room revealed severe kidney damage

Upon her arrival at the pediatric emergency room at Bnei Zion Medical Center, the medical teams performed a series of rapid tests during which it was discovered that the girl was suffering from kidney failure. According to the findings, the injury was likely caused by exposure to glycolic acid, a substance found in certain hair straightening products that are not approved for use and can cause serious kidney damage.
Director of Pediatric Emergency Department at Bnei Zion Medical Center, Dr. Bashir Nasrallah, stated that "this is a well-known and worrying phenomenon. As early as January 2026, the Ministry of Health published clear guidelines regarding the dangers associated with the use of unapproved products in hair salons, especially those containing substances that may cause kidney damage. We call on the public to be vigilant and ensure that every cosmetic treatment is performed using only approved substances."

Rapid intervention led to the stabilization of the girl's condition and her release.

Director of the Pediatric Department at Bnei Zion Medical Center, Prof. Yaakov Gneizi, added that "the alertness of the medical team in the emergency room allowed for a quick diagnosis and the provision of appropriate treatment. The rapid intervention contributed to the stabilization of the patient's condition and continued treatment and close monitoring in the pediatric department." After several days of hospitalization, the girl was discharged home. Bnei Zion Medical Center emphasizes the importance of avoiding the use of unapproved hair straightening products, and calls on the public to ensure that such treatments are performed only in authorized places, using products approved by the Ministry of Health.