Background on the Research Into Cancer Risk and Chemical Hair Straighteners

For years, chemical hair straightening products have been the go-to solutions for straighter hair for millions of people, especially black women.

The risks of developing uterine cancer and other serious illnesses was unknown until scientific studies established the links.

To identify the root causes of cancer, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a long-term study through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Cancer Epidemiology Group.

For more than 11 years the Cancer Epidemiology Group, a branch of the NIH, studied a cohort of women whose sisters had breast cancer.

The group worked to identify the lifestyles and risk factors that may contribute to cancer risk.

The study officially ended in 2022 and was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

According to the study, frequent users of chemical hair straighteners and other hair products contribute to the development of uterine cancer.

The study also found that Black women were more at risk compared to white women.

Black women were more susceptible to uterine cancer after using chemical hair straightening products and permanent hair dye.

Besides uterine cancer, the long-term study also identified ovarian cancer in the participants who used chemical hair straightening chemicals for a long time.

Based on the same study’s findings, prolonged exposure to and use of chemical hair straighteners was associated with increased breast cancer risk.

In short, chemical hair straighteners account for the major cancer health disparities among patients.

Chemical hair straighteners can cause cancer — and you can file your hair straightener lawsuit if you’ve used chemical hair straighteners.

How Do Hair Straighteners Increase Breast, Ovarian, and Uterine Cancer Risk?

Although the National Cancer Institute expresses the need for more research to confirm the association, its study’s findings expose the fact that dangerous chemicals in hair straightening products may increase a person’s risk of developing uterine cancer and other types of cancers.

How do hair straighteners cause a person to develop uterine cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer?

Granted, more studies are necessary to arrive at a definitive answer.

Nevertheless, a look at the chemicals in these hair straightening products and hair dyes shows that there are several chemicals linked to cancer present in many brand-name hair straighteners.

Formaldehyde

Most chemical hair straighteners and dyes may have formaldehyde as one of their active ingredients.

Formaldehyde is a colorless and tasteless chemical that’s ubiquitous in hair products.

Besides hair products, formaldehyde is the chemical of choice for preserving tissue specimens.

Since the 1980s, formaldehyde has been found to cause tumor growth in rats.

Over the years, more researchers found that formaldehyde is also carcinogenic to humans.

Any exposure to formaldehyde can predispose a person to develop cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, formaldehyde can cause endometrial cancer, skin cancer, and breast cancer.

There have also been documented cases of myeloid leukemia from prolonged formaldehyde exposure.

Heavy Metals

Hair straightening products may also contain heavy metals like cadmium and lead.

These metals aren’t just toxic. According to recent cancer research, they also increase breast cancer risk.

Cadmium is one of the most carcinogenic metals in hair products.

A 2020 study described the link between prolonged cadmium exposure to the development of immune disorders and even kidney cancer.

Lead is also another heavy metal that places a person at an increased risk of developing various health conditions.

Like cadmium, lead can also lead to an increased risk of leukemia and cancers.

Lead and cadmium are only two carcinogenic metals in hair straighteners and other similar products.

Anyone who has used chemical hair straighteners for any period is at an increased risk of being diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Parabens

Parabens are also common ingredients in hair straighteners and permanent dyes.

In small amounts, they do not cause cancer.

However, cancer risk seems to increase with regular and prolonged exposure to them.

Benzophenone-3

Benzophenone-3 is a toxic ingredient that’s bioaccumulative.

In other words, it builds up in the body over time.

Once Benzophenone-3 has reached a certain amount in body tissues, it causes tissue damage and cancer.

Benzophenone-3 leads to various types of cancers.

In fact, one study in 2017 linked Benzophenone-3 to increased lung cancer metastasis.

Phthalates and Other Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Phthalates are one of many endocrine-disrupting chemicals often found in hair straighteners.

These chemicals disrupt the normal secretion of estrogen, exposing women to higher uterine cancer risk.

Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuits

As more women receive their cancer diagnoses, the need to bring negligent hair product manufacturers to justice increases.

In 2022, many women have come forward to file lawsuits against negligent manufacturers of hair products.

To date, the lawsuits have grown into a multi-district litigation against these hair product companies:

• L’Oreal
• Softsheen-Carson (Optimum Relaxer)
• Dark & Lovely
• Just For Me
• Motions Hair
• ORS Hair Care
• African Pride

The defendants’ are facing claims that their products caused women to develop aggressive uterine cancer.

Other injuries potentially claimed may include those who received cancer diagnoses ranging from breast cancer to myeloid leukemia — a relatively rare type of blood cancer.

The health risks of using chemical hair straighteners will be debated throughout the litigation.

You may be wondering what grounds you have for filing a hair straightener cancer lawsuit.

If you’re asking this question, you may have a legitimate claim on two grounds.

Companies Placing Consumers at Risk of Uterine Cancer and Other Illnesses

The first ground is the fact that these companies knowingly incorporate dangerous chemicals into their hair straightening products.

By doing this, they may contribute to an increased cancer risk in consumers, failing to act based on the standards of care owed to their consumers.

Not Informing the Public of the Cancer Risk Hair Straightening Products and Hair Relaxers Pose

Any company that releases a product must warn consumers of the potential risks involved in product use.

By doing this, companies can avoid liability and a potential lawsuit in case a consumer sustains an injury.

Companies that manufacture and sell chemical hair straighteners did not adequately warn consumers of the increased risk of uterine cancer that may potentially occur from using their products.

As a result, people use their products and may be at risk of uterine, breast, or endometrial cancer.

Do You Qualify For A Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one used hair straightening products and subsequently developed cancer, you may be eligible to file a claim.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation, or use the virtual legal assistant on this page to see if you qualify to file a claim instantly.

Gathering Evidence For A Hair Relaxer Lawsuit

Evidence is important in any personal injury lawsuit, especially product liability cases.

In a Hair Straightener Lawsuits, evidence may include:

• Medical records
• Medical bills
• Receipts of purchase
• Lost wages as a result of medical treatment
• Witness statements
• Doctor’s notes
• Other evidence proving use of hair relaxer products and the subsequent health impacts

Assessing Damages For Hair Straightener Lawsuits

With the help of an experienced attorney, you will begin to assess damages related to your case.

Damages refer to the total losses incurred as a result of an injury or diagnosis, both economic and non-economic.

Damages in a Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit may include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages or earning capability
• Lost quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional damages
• Permanent disability
• Other damages

TorHoerman Law: Your Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawyers

Cancer can be a difficult diagnosis to accept and understand.

Our Hair Relaxer Lawyers are here to help you file a legal claim for compensation.

If you used hair relaxers, chemical hair straighteners, or other hair straightening products and subsequently developed cancer, you may be eligible to file a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Chemical Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit instantly.

Our experienced attorneys are here to review your case and provide advice on the best course of action for you and your family.

We will fight for the compensation you deserve and ensure your rights are protected.

Contact us today to get started.