The FDA Says Formaldehyde In Chemical Hair Relaxers Is A Health Risk

Hair straightening treatments release toxic formaldehyde gas that could cause cancer

Friday, December 23, 2022 - Local media outlets have been covering a surge in hair relaxer lawsuits filed against major cosmetics brands such as L'Oreal and Softsheen-Carson. One insidious aspect of the coverage reveals that the major cosmetics manufacturers knew about the potential cancer risks associated with their hair relaxer products, but underestimated them and failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs suing L'Oreal USA Inc. and Softsheen-Carson Inc., and others allege that they developed uterine cancer, breast cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and other forms of the deadly disease directly as a result of using chemical hair relaxers regularly and for an extended period of time. The benchmark for using a regular chemical hair straightener is approximately four times per year. Other hair relaxer products, including Dark & Lovely and Motions, may be linked to uterine cancer in women. Women who frequently use these products have been found to have a higher risk of developing hair relaxer uterine cancer, potentially due to the presence of harmful and carcinogenic substances. The companies defend their products as being safe when used as directed and that they have been extensively tested. Hair relaxer lawsuits are shedding light on the US governments role, or lack thereof, in testing chemical hair straighteners and all beauty care products. Hundreds of uttering and breast cancer hair relaxer cancer lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming months. People incorrectly assume that if a product like a chemical hair straightener is allowed on the market that it must be safe. This is patently untrue. Neither the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other federal agency tests or regulates cosmetic manufacturers or sales. While the FDA doesn't regulate individual types of beauty products, they do analyze and test their chemical components and give their expert scientific opinions.

The FDA has determined that process of heating chemical hair relaxers during straightening and styling process could damage could emit carcinogenic steam into the air. The FDA reports, " Most hair smoothing or straightening products release formaldehyde gas, a known human carcinogen as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, into the air during the hair straightening or smoothing process." Formaldehyde gas is colorless but emits a pungent odor. Toxic, carcinogenic, formaldehyde gas can be ingested primarily by inhalation and skin contact. In the case of hair straightening or smoothing products, the primary route of exposure is through inhalation, as the gas is released into the air during the treatment process. The first physical symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning may be coughing, wheezing, and burning eyes. Beauticians are at the highest risk of developing cancer from administering hair straightening treatments that emit large amount of fume such as Brazilian blowouts, Japanese hair straightening, and keratin treatments. Chemical hair straighteners is most dangerous when used in professional beauty salons without adequate ventilation. Young girls are using chemical hair straightening at a surprisingly early age also. Chemical hair straighteners are suspected to potentially cause cancer of the female reproductive system, the uterus in particular. Studies show that women who use chemical hair straighteners more than four times are more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products.

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Lawyers for Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuits

We will represent all persons involved in a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning our lawyers never charge legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please fill out our short online contact form and one of our hair relaxer attorneys for uterine cancer or breast cancer will contact you to answer any of your questions.