Hair Relaxer Lawsuit for Cancers
In 2014, the FDA issued new regulations requiring hair relaxer manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in their products. Unfortunately, many companies still need to comply with these rules. As a result, thousands of women filed hair relaxer lawsuits against major hair care product makers, including L’Oreal, Schwarzkopf, and Pantene. The plaintiffs in these hair relaxer lawsuits claimed that the companies knew that using formaldehyde was dangerous, yet they continued to sell products containing it. They argued that the companies should be held liable for any injuries caused by their products. Were you diagnosed with uterine fibroids or endometrial, uterine, or breast cancer, and suspect your medical condition resulted from using hair relaxing and straightening products for years? The personal injury attorneys at Shelsby & Leoni, can file a hair relaxer lawsuit to ensure you receive compensation for damages. Contact our cancer injury attorneys or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. You can also visit @cancerinjurylawyers for a free case exam.
Hair Relaxer and Chemical Hair Straightening Products
Hair relaxer products contain an alkali agent which breaks down the sulfide bonds in the hair, causing it to flatten and become softer and easier to comb. The chemicals in hair relaxer products break down the sulfur bonds in the hair. Keratin, a protein found in hair, is sensitive to changes in its hydrogen ion concentration. The pH level of chemical hair straighteners determines how effective it will be. There are many hair relaxer products, and most are marketed to African American women.
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court
A civil suit filed in federal court claims that popular chemical hair relaxer/straightener products contain harmful ingredients to consumers, especially black women. The hair relaxer lawsuit alleges that the products contain carcinogenic chemicals called nitrosamines.
These relaxing hair chemicals are also found in some foods and drinks, including coffee, beer, wine, cured meats, and processed meat. Nitrosamines are known to cause cancer in animals.
The hair relaxer lawsuit plaintiff, Susan L. Johnson, says she used hair relaxer products manufactured by Schwarzkopf Professional Corporation. She purchased chemical straighteners online in 2008 and began using the “relaxing solution” regularly.
Effects of Hair Relaxers
In 2010, her hair began falling out, and she noticed rashes on her arms and legs. After seeing a dermatologist, she learned the chemical hair relaxer caused the rashes.
Johnson sued the chemical hair relaxer manufacturer in a New Jersey state court in 2013. Her lawsuit blames hair relaxers from commercial cosmetic companies for her health problems.
Her lawyer, Michael J. Sussman, believes the case will set a precedent for people who suffer adverse reactions to hair relaxers. He said his client is seeking damages for medical expenses, extreme pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and punitive damages.
Jenny Mitchell filed Uterine Cancer Lawsuit Against L’Oreal USA and Others
At 28 years old, Jenny Mitchell was diagnosed with uterine cancer. The severe health risk at such a young age required her to undergo a hysterectomy, dashing her dreams of having children. Uterine cancer typically results in permanent infertility.
Like many black women, Mitchell began using chemical hair straightening products in grade school.
She filed her strong uterine cancer case less than a week after a significant health study revealed an elevated cancer risk of developing uterine fibroids and endometrial conditions from use of chemical hair straighteners, including an olive oil relaxer and organic root stimulator.
EDCs and Phthalates in Chemical Hair Straighteners
Hair relaxer products contain chemicals called EDCs and phthalates, known to damage DNA and produce a higher risk of breast, prostate, testicular, endometrial, and uterine cancer in black and white women. Hair relaxers also interfere with hormone function, causing early puberty and infertility.
There are many hair relaxers, including ammonia-based, sulfate-free, and enzyme-based relaxers. Some hair relaxer products use sodium hydroxide, while others use ammonium thioglycolate.
Manufacturing hair relaxers involves preservatives, including parabens and propylparaben, which are linked to an increased risk of breast and uterine cancer.
A Connection Between Uterine Cancer and Chemical Hair Relaxers
A recent JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) internal medicine study found that women who used chemical hair relaxers had a higher risk of developing endometrial and uterine cancer than those who did not.
The cancer risk researchers analyzed chemical hair relaxers data from over 5 million women enrolled in the National Institutes of Health Interview Survey for more than a decade.
Women who reported having used hair products containing relaxer chemicals at least once per week had a 43 percent increased risk of endometrial and uterine cancer compared with those who never used chemical hair relaxer/straightener products.
There was no significant difference in the ovarian and uterine cancer rates among the groups of black or white women.
The findings are limited because it is difficult to determine whether the association between hair relaxer endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hair products and endometrial cancer is causal. However, they suggest further research is warranted to better understand the link between hair relaxer use and risk of uterine cancer.
Plaintiffs Use of Chemical Hair Relaxing / Organic Root Stimulator Products
In early 2017, a plaintiff filed a hair relaxer lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the defendant. She alleged that she developed cervical cancer from using hair-relaxing products, including chemical hair straighteners.
She claimed that her use of hair relaxer treatments caused damage to her cervix, resulting in cancer.
The defendant denied all allegations and asserted that no scientific proof links hair straightener products to cervical cancer. They argued that many hair relaxer/straightener products are available, including those containing natural ingredients such as glycolic acid, salicylic acids, etc.
Potential Settlement Value of Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer Lawsuits
Our hair relaxer injury lawyers estimate the potential settlement values of uterine cancer/hair relaxer cancer lawsuits at between $400,000 and $1,750,000. Our data is based on our experience representing victims involved in similar cases, recent lawsuits filed in civil court, and settlements we’ve negotiated for our clients over the years.
Our law firm believes much more hair relaxer cancer cases are waiting to be filed. Were you diagnosed with uterine cancer and used chemical hair relaxers? Contact our uterine cancer lawyers to discuss your hair relaxer cancer lawsuit for compensation.
Product Liability and Medical Malpractice Uterine Cancer Settlements and Verdicts
Cancer settlement statistics show that uterine cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat. Injured victims can file a hair relaxer lawsuit against a doctor for failing to diagnose uterine cancer.
The average amount paid out for uterine cancer settlements is $2 million. A hair relaxer lawsuit study found the median payout for women diagnosed with cervical cancer was $1.5 million.
A woman treated for endometrial cancer received a settlement of $9.6 million. She had undergone multiple surgeries and radiation therapy.
Did you develop uterine cancer that your doctor diagnosed? Contact our law firm to discuss filing a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit.
Statistical Link Between Hair Relaxers and Uterine Cancer
Some statistics reveal that women who use hair relaxer/straightener products may be more susceptible to developing uterine cancer.
Researchers who analyzed data collected from over 10 million people in Denmark between 1997 and 2013 found that females who used hair relaxers were 20% more likely to develop uteri cancer than those who did not.
According to the National Cancer Institute, black women have a higher incidence rate of being diagnosed with uterine cancer because of their frequent use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hair straightening products.
This endocrine disruptors association with the risk of developing uterine cancer remained even after researchers accounted for age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, hormone therapy use, history of diabetes, hypertension, and socioeconomic status.
The harmful chemicals in hair relaxer and hair products include:
- Sodium hydroxide
- Ammonium thioglycolate
- Guanidine carbonate
- Dimethyl sulfoxide
Studies Linking Hair Straightening Chemicals to Uterine Cancer
A recent National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences study suggests that women who use hair dryers are likely to develop uterine cancers.
The National Institutes study examined data from the National Health Interview Survey over ten years, including information about how often people used hair dryers and whether they developed uterine cancer.
The research team found that frequent users of hair dryers with chemically-laced hair relaxer/straightener products had a greater risk of developing uterine cancer than those who did not. There was a link between hair dryer usage and uterine cancer, even among women who didn’t have children.
The National Cancer Institute findings come amid growing concerns about the safety of heating the chemicals. Several studies have linked hair straighteners and relaxing chemicals to adverse health effects like infertility, premature births, miscarriages, and birth defects.
Studies Linking Hair Straightener Chemicals to Breast Cancer
An Environmental Health Perspectives study suggests that women who regularly use hair straightening tools or permanent hair dyes are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers analyzed data collected from over 3,500 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II.
They found that regular use of hair straighteners increased the risk of breast cancer by 30% compared to those who did not use such devices. In addition, the researchers discovered that women who used hair dyes had a 50% increase in the odds of developing breast cancer.
The study authors believe that the chemical compounds in hair straighteners and permanent hair dyes could cause DNA damage, leading to mutations and cell growth, resulting in breast cancer. The increased health risks of being diagnosed with cancer were among black women with a family history of the disease.
These changes can lead to abnormal cells forming tumors. Previous studies have linked certain chemicals in hair dyes used by white and black women to leukemia and bladder cancer.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Specializing in Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuits
Were you diagnosed with uterine fibroids or breast, endometrial, or uterine cancer or another medical disease you believe is related to your years of using hair straightening and relaxing products?
Please contact our personal injury attorneys at here to discuss your potential case’s legal merit and file a product liability lawsuit to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your medical bills and other damages.
The cancer injury lawyers at Shelsby & Leoni accept all personal injury cases and chemical hair straightener lawsuits via a contingency fee agreement meaning you pay no upfront fees until we secure financial compensation.