According to recently released research, women that use hair relaxers at least four times a year over a long period have an increased risk of suffering hormone-sensitive health issues, such as uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, and ovarian cancer. Another possible health condition caused by hair relaxers is endometriosis. This health issue involves the abnormal growth of uterus-like tissue on other organs and parts of the body.
This abnormal tissue growth can cause pain, discomfort, and heavy bleeding. Some areas where abnormal tissue growth can happen and cause endometriosis includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and bladder. Endometriosis is a serious health condition that can cause long-term pain and suffering, as victims can experience physical pain and infertility. In most severe cases of endometriosis, women require surgery to stop the effects of the health condition. Women that used hair relaxers and suffered endometriosis can file hair relaxer lawsuits to hold manufacturers accountable for their negligence.
What is Endometriosis?
Hair relaxers contain dangerous chemicals that can cause hormone-sensitive health issues. Endometriosis is a health condition caused by consistent hair relaxer use. The endometrium, or the inner lining of the uterus, has tissue that women shed during a menstrual period. Endometriosis is when this type of tissue develops in other parts of the body than the uterus, staying there and causing painful symptoms.
The following are some areas of the body that can be affected by endometriosis:
- Ovaries
- Vagina
- Bladder
- Rectum
- Intestines
- Fallopian tubes
- Peritoneum
- Diaphragm
This hormonally-sensitive tissue can become inflamed during a woman’s period and cause lesions, adhesions, ovarian cysts, and scar tissue inside the body. Endometriosis commonly occurs in women between the ages of 25 and 40.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Women living with endometriosis can experience significant symptoms that can cause physical pain and negatively affect their quality of life. Endometriosis is a health condition that can affect a person throughout the day, leading to severe pain and suffering.
The following are some symptoms of endometriosis:
- Menstrual cramps
- Abdominal and back pain
- Painful bowel movements
- Heavy bleeding during periods
- Light bleeding (or spotting) between periods
- Pain during intercourse
- Infertility
If you experience the above symptoms, you should go to the hospital to have a healthcare professional determine if you have endometriosis. Diagnosing the health condition early allows you to begin treatment to mitigate the long-term negative health consequences of endometriosis.
Learn More: Black women have an increased risk of uterine cancer from hair relaxers
How Can Hair Relaxers Cause Endometriosis?
Recent scientific studies, such as the one from the National Institute of Health (NIH), have indicated that hair relaxers can cause hormone-sensitive health issues. The reason for this is that they contain harmful chemicals called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals are helpful for straightening hair, but they can also bind to and alter hormone receptors.
EDCs can trick to body into thinking they are hormones, as well as deceiving the body into thinking they have enough hormones. This can lead to hormone imbalance, which can cause a health condition like endometriosis. Using hair relaxers at least four times a year, which many women do to adhere to eurocentric beauty standards, can increase the risk of harmful exposure to EDCs that can cause significant health issues.
Long-Term Complications of Endometriosis
Endometriosis can have long-term health complications, as the condition may not go away naturally and can continue to cause intense physical pain. Having to constantly deal with physical pain can lead to fatigue and general unhappiness. Those living with endometriosis can experience non-economic damages, such as loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. The effect of the health condition can cause anxiety and depression that can affect their mental health, social relationships, and general attitude.
If a woman’s endometriosis does not heal naturally, they may require a hysterectomy to heal the effects of the health condition. This is surgery to remove the uterus. While that can help with the pain caused by endometriosis, it can also mean that a woman cannot become pregnant. This can have its own effect on a woman’s quality of life, as becoming a mother may be something they have wanted their whole life.
Holding Hair Relaxer Manufacturers Accountable for Causing Endometriosis
Manufacturers of hair relaxers, such as L’Oreal, Namaste Laboratories, and Strength of Nature, can be held liable for causing endometriosis for some women using their hair relaxers. They failed to warn consumers about the dangers presented by their products and did not do enough to make people aware of the harmful EDCs used in hair relaxers.
If you suffered endometriosis from using hair relaxers, you could file a hair relaxer lawsuit with the manufacturer of the product you used to pursue compensation for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. Recently, hair relaxer lawsuits consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) that you can join to increase your chances of recovering a fair settlement.
Should You Hire a Product Liability Lawyer to Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
Women with endometriosis from hair relaxers can file product liability lawsuits to hold manufacturers accountable for failure to warn. Their best chance to recover fair compensation for their damages is to hire a product liability lawyer with experience handling mass torts.
There is a complicated process involved with MDLs that a person without a legal background will not understand. An experienced product liability attorney will be able to advise on the proper steps to take to join the MDL and put you in the best position to recover fair compensatory damages.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
At The Russo Firm, our product liability lawyers have decades of experience helping victims of dangerous products with a proven track record of earning fair compensation for our clients. The process of the hair relaxer MDL could be long and complicated, so it’s vital to have someone in your corner with experience handling these types of claims.
Our product liability attorneys can advise you on how to handle yourself through the hair relaxer MDL process. They can collaborate with our plaintiffs’ attorneys to put every plaintiff in the best position to recover compensation from a global settlement. Contact us for a free hair relaxer case evaluation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
