What is a Hair Relaxer?
Hair relaxers are used in the beauty industry as a type of lotion or cream for people with tight curls to make their hair straighter by relaxing their curls. Hazardous chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA), formaldehyde, parabens, are used in the hair straighteners to smooth hair as it causes the chemicals to stick to the hair and skin. Typically, it is used every 4 to 6 weeks. These products are typically marketed to African American women in the community to straighten their hair.
Are These Products Regulated?
The Food and Drug Administration does regular cosmetics, including Hair Relaxers. Companies are required to list their ingredients of their products, however there is an exemption for “trade secrets”. This can cause harmful ingredients to stay hidden from consumers.
Are These Products Dangerous?
A National Institute of Health-funded study published in October of 2022 found an association with women who regularly used the Hair Relaxer Products and uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. This study showed African American women were more negatively impacted using these products because of their higher usage of these products. Among other things the study showed is that women who used hair relaxers four times per year are two and a half times more likely to develop these cancers than those who did not use it as often.
Milavetz Law, P.A. is investigating cases of uterine, endometriosis, and ovarian cancers of women who used Hair Relaxers. Contact us for a no-cost consultation. Please call us or fill out our online questionnaire so one of our specialists can better evaluation your case!
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