Maryland Residents: Hair Relaxer Breast Cancer Information

Research Shows Hair Relaxers Cause Breast Cancer

Women in Maryland who use chemical hair relaxers on a regular basis have been found to experience higher rates of breast cancer. Hair relaxers contain dangerous chemicals known to affect the endocrine system and cause various forms of cancer. Hair relaxer breast cancer is a serious and potentially deadly disease that harms women in Maryland. Critics say companies producing hair relaxers have been alert to the risk of breast cancer from hair relaxers for some time, but failed to warn Maryland consumers. Safe alternatives were readily available, but women in Maryland were unaware of the risk of hair relaxer breast cancer.

If you or a loved one in Maryland used hair relaxers, read below for important breast cancer lawsuit information for Maryland residents.

Choosing profits over consumer safety, cosmetics companies persisted in selling hair relaxers containing known carcinogens. Attorneys handling hair relaxer breast cancer lawsuits for Maryland claims believe women and family members of women in Maryland who have suffered from hair relaxer breast cancer may be eligible for significant compensation. This page provides a comprehensive look at hair relaxer breast cancer including research and warnings.

Cancer Causing Chemicals in Hair Relaxers Used in Maryland

Hair relaxers are popular cosmetic products in Maryland, particularly among Black and Latina women. Hair relaxers contain harsh chemicals which intentionally damage the natural protein structure of curly or kinky hair to make it flat and straight. Sold as both creams and lotions, hair relaxers are applied in Maryland beauty salons and homes. Hair relaxer chemicals are applied directly to the scalp every couple of months, where they are likely to cause burns and lesions. Up to 90% of Black women report using hair relaxers at some stage of their life, and many say they straighten their hair because of workplace pressure to have straight hair. The hair relaxer marketed is estimated at $718 million each year. There are dozens of different hair relaxers sold in Maryland. Some of the most popular products are listed here:

• Africa's Best
• African Pride
• Bantu
• Creme of Nature
• Dark & Lovely
• Just For Me
• Luster's
• Mizani Rhelaxer
• Motions
• Optimum
• ORS Olive Oil
• Soft & Beautiful
• TCB
• TCB Naturals
• Ultra Precise
• Ultra Sheen Supreme
• Elite Bistro

Cosmetics are only loosely regulated by the FDA. No specific safety testing is required, and their ingredients lists may include catchall categories such as "fragrance" or "perfumes". In many cases, harmful and cancer-causing chemicals may be lumped into these broad categories, so even the most savvy consumers in Maryland have no idea what the product contains. Advertisements for hair relaxers use misleading terms like "botanicals", "natural", and "nourishing", when the ingredients actually contain substances such as phthalates, estrogens, and parabens that are known to cause breast cancer.

How Hair Relaxers Cause Breast Cancer

A study published in 2020 in the International Journal of Cancer found that using chemicals hair relaxers is connected to higher rates of breast cancer. In a large sample group of over 46,000 women, researchers found that exposure to chemical hair relaxers increased the risk of breast cancer diagnosis. Overall, use of hair relaxers increases the risk for breast cancer by 18%; women who have their hair relaxed often (every 5-8 weeks) face a 31% higher risk for breast cancer. Women who apply chemical hair relaxers to others' scalps also experience breast cancer at higher rates. In addition, Black women (the primary users of hair relaxers in Maryland) tend to develop more aggressive forms of breast cancer and are more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Black women also have the highest rates of uterine fibroids of any racial group, a condition which is connected with breast cancer, as well as exposure to EDCs in hair relaxers.

Research shows that the more often a woman uses hair relaxers, the higher her risk for breast cancer.

Breast cancer from hair relaxers is linked to the presence of "endocrine-disrupting chemicals" or EDCs. EDCs impact the normal functioning of the endocrine system, altering the body's hormone levels in dangerous ways. The endocrine system is responsible for producing and releasing hormones within the body that aid in the growth and regulation of the brain, nervous system, reproductive system, and metabolic system. Numerous aspects of human health rely on the endocrine system operating in a precise manner, releasing appropriate amounts of hormone at specific times. When this system is altered by chemical interactions from hair relaxers, women may suffer from endometriosis, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, metabolic syndromes and immune disorders.

Hair Relaxer Attorneys Help Maryland Families Win Breast Cancer Compensation

As leading talcum powder cancer attorneys, our legal team is uniquely equipped to support women and families as they seek compensation for breast cancer from hair relaxers in Maryland. When women have experienced harm as a result of using dangerous cosmetics products, our attorney team sees it as our duty to pursue justice on their behalf.

• Jacqueline Fox, $72 million for cancer from talcum powder
• Gloria Ristesund, $55 million for cancer from talcum powder
• Deborah Giannecchini, $70 million for cancer from talcum powder
• Lois Slemp, $110 million for cancer from talcum powder
• Twenty-two plaintiffs in St. Louis Circuit Court, $4.7 billion for cancer from talcum powder

Based on our experience with talcum powder cancer litigation, we anticipate that Maryland women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have a history of using chemical hair relaxers may be entitled to significant compensation.

Cosmetics manufacturers are bound by a legal duty to ensure their products are safe, and to warn Maryland consumers of any potential risks associated with normal use of their products. Scientific evidence linking chemicals found in hair relaxers to breast cancer has been available for years, yet the manufacturers of chemical hair relaxers never recalled their products or warned consumers in Maryland of the danger. Their inaction has led to millions of women being exposed to a risk for breast cancer, including countless residents of Maryland, all while safe hair relaxer products were readily available. If you or a loved one suffered from breast cancer after using chemical hair relaxers in Maryland, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Let Our Hair Relaxer Breast Cancer Lawyers Serving Maryland Help You

Our lawyers specialize in holding large corporations accountable when they've placed profits ahead of safety. Through settlements and winning verdicts, our attorneys have obtained millions for our clients. Let us help you today.

Hair Relaxer Breast Cancer Lawsuits for Maryland Residents

Filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold the manufacturer accountable for damage it has caused you or a loved one, while also providing real compensation for your medical expenses, suffering and loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.