Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer Lawsuit

A recent study has found a doubled risk of uterine cancer for women who use hair relaxers and other chemical hair straightening products routinely.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting hair relaxer induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using hair relaxers or chemical hair straighteners, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Woman With Uterine Cancer Files Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Against L’Oreal

In November 2022, a woman who has had uterine cancer for 12 years filed a lawsuit blaming her cancer on hair relaxers made by L’Oreal and other companies. The 64-year-old woman, Jackie B., 64, claims that she was exposed to toxic chemicals in Dark & Lovely, Optimum, and Just for Me hair relaxers from approximately 1973 until recently, including when she was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment. Click here to read more.

Do Hair Relaxers Cause Uterine Cancer?

In October 2022, a major study involving over 33,000 women found a doubled increased risk of uterine cancer for women who routinely used hair relaxers and chemical hair straightening products.

The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by researchers who warned that the toxic chemicals in hair relaxers could have hormone-disrupting side effects in women.

What is the Problem?

Unlike other types of hair treatments, the chemicals in hair relaxers commonly cause abrasions, burns, and skin irritation to the scalp. The broken skin could allow chemicals to get into the body and disrupt the endocrine system, resulting in life-threatening side effects like uterine cancer, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and more.

1st Lawsuit Filed by Black Woman With Uterine Cancer

Soon after the study linking hair relaxers with uterine cancer was published, the first lawsuit was filed by a black woman from Missouri who had a hysterectomy when she was only 28 years old.

The woman was diagnosed with uterine cancer after decades of using chemical hair relaxers and straighteners, which she blamed on her cancer. She sued L’Oreal and other major beauty companies for failing to warn her and other woman about the deadly risk of cancer.

Her lawsuit was filed on October 21, 2022 against L’Oreal, Strength Of Nature Global, Soft Sheen / Carson Inc., Dabur International, and Namaste Laboratories in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois — Case Number 1:22-cv-05815.

What is the Risk of Cancer?

The study estimated that about 4% of women who used hair relaxers or chemical straighteners at least 4 times per year (or every 3 months) would develop uterine cancer by the time they were 70 years old, compared to 1.6% of women who did not use hair relaxing products.

What Are Hair Relaxers?

Hair relaxers are chemical products that are used to break down proteins in the hair, softening it so that it can be straightened into a silky-smooth texture. Hair relaxers are commonly used by women who have naturally kinky, curly, or wavy hair to straighten their hair. The treatment typically must be repeated every 6 to 8 weeks to straighten the roots.

What Is Uterine Cancer?

There are two main types of uterine cancer: endometrial cancer, which is the most common type, and uterine sarcoma, which is very rare.

In most cases, uterine cancer occurs when cells start dividing and growing uncontrollably in the inner lining of the womb (called the endometrium). If detected early, more than 95% of women who are diagnosed with endometrial cancer survive with effective treatment.

Very rarely, uterine cancer occurs in connective tissues surrounding the uterus (called uterine sarcoma). Uterine sarcoma is usually highly-aggressive and spreads quickly to other parts of the body.

Injuries Linked to Hair Relaxers

Uterine Cancer
Uterine Fibroids
Endometriosis
Breast Cancer
And more

Types of Hair Relaxers & Chemical Hair Straightening Products

In the U.S., some of the most popular hair relaxers and chemical hair straightening products include:

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

Do I have a Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer Lawsuit?

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