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Frequent users of chemical hair straighteners may be at increased risk of certain forms of cancer, according to a recent study from researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. If you have been exposed to harmful chemicals through the use of chemical hair straighteners and have been adversely affected, you may be eligible for compensation.
The Link Between Chemical Hair Straighteners and Cancers in Women
The first chemical hair relaxers were released in the early 1900s, and since then, they have become popular with African-American women who were looking to straighten their hair. These hair relaxers are applied to the base of the hair shaft and cause the new hair growth to straighten. The process is repeated every 4 to 8 weeks to keep the hair straight.
A recent study, known as the Sister Study, looked at 33,000 women to investigate risk factors for breast cancer and other cancers in women. It found that those who use chemical hair straighteners had twice the risk of uterine cancer as those who did not and that they were 150% more likely to have a hysterectomy as a result of health issues. The study did not find such a link between uterine cancer risk and the use of other products such as hair dyes.
Other researchers have used data from the Sister Study to investigate other issues affecting women, such as endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. There are concerns that chemical hair straighteners may contain chemicals that can be absorbed by the skin and that these chemicals can cause other health conditions.
In particular, there are concerns about:
- Bisphenol A
- Parabens
- Heavy metals
- Formaldehyde
What Symptoms Have Product Users Reported?
Uterine fibroids and uterine cancer are the subject of the current lawsuit. Symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (including bleeding after menopause)
- A feeling of fullness
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the abdomen
- Fertility issues
Uterine fibroids are typically benign and do not usually develop into cancer, but this does happen in around 1 in 1,000 cases. However, the symptoms of uterine cancer are similar to those of uterine fibroids. Gynecologic cancers are often diagnosed following a pap smear.
What Types of Cancer Have Been Linked to Hair Relaxers?
The current mass tort actions focus mainly on uterine cancer. However, there are other cases relating to breast cancer risk, ovarian cancers, and other hormone-sensitive cancers. Women from African-American communities are more likely to experience health risks as a result of the additional exposure burden they have to the ingredients in hair products. There is societal pressure for women from those communities to straighten their hair, and researchers believe the health disparities between white women and women from those communities can, as in the case of the Sister Study, be attributed to the use of hair straighteners.
Chemical hair straighteners are still available in many stores today. It’s important to take precautions to limit your exposure to the chemicals, such as wearing gloves, following the instructions carefully, and avoiding the use of such products if you have any open cuts or sores on your scalp. Alternatively, consider using other hair straightening methods instead.
What Action Should You Take If You’ve Been Diagnosed?
If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer or uterine fibroids and have had a hysterectomy as a result, you may be eligible for compensation. It is difficult to be sure what the compensation in a mass tort case will be, but women who are frequent and long-term users of hair straighteners may have a case against the manufacturer of the hair straightener.
It’s important to document your symptoms and seek professional legal advice about how to progress with your claim. Contact us to learn more and discuss your options.