Every day, millions of people reach for personal care products they trust—shampoo, lotion, body wash, cosmetics—believing these items are safe. But recent scientific findings reveal a disturbing truth: many of these products contain hidden toxins linked to serious health risks, including cancer. Even more alarming, these harmful chemicals disproportionately affect Black and Latina women due to targeted marketing and longstanding beauty norms.
If you or a loved one has developed cancer after using hair relaxers, lotions, or other personal care products, you may be eligible to seek justice and compensation through a personal care products lawsuit.
LitigationConnect, LLC, can help you uncover the truth, understand your legal options, and connect with experienced lawyers who are actively evaluating these claims.
You may not have known the risks. But now that you do, you deserve answers—and justice.
Are personal care products causing cancer—and can you sue?
- Many personal care items like hair relaxers, shampoos, and lotions contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs).
- FRPs—such as DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, and imidazolidinyl urea—can release cancer-causing formaldehyde with repeated use.
- Black and Latina women are at higher risk due to targeted marketing and use of products influenced by beauty norms and discrimination.
- Cancers linked to these products include uterine, breast, nasopharyngeal, leukemia, and other blood cancers.
- Despite the risks, U.S. regulations are weak: products often don’t clearly warn of these ingredients.
- If you or a loved one has developed cancer after regular use of such products, you may qualify for a personal care product lawsuit.
- LitigationConnect helps victims connect with experienced lawyers for free, confidential case evaluations with no upfront cost.
- Legal teams are actively investigating claims even though no national class action has yet been filed.
- Potential compensation includes medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages.
- Acting now can protect your rights and help push for safer industry standards and accountability.
Contact Our Team Today
Formaldehyde in Products Meant for Daily Use
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. For decades, it's been used in building materials, embalming fluid, and industrial disinfectants. But shockingly, this highly toxic chemical is also present—often without clear labeling—in many everyday personal care products.
Even when formaldehyde isn’t added directly, manufacturers often use formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) like DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, and imidazolidinyl urea to extend shelf life. These preservatives slowly release formaldehyde over time, exposing consumers repeatedly with each use.
What does that mean for you? It means that using products like:
- Hair relaxers
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Body lotions
- Facial cleansers
- Eyelash glue
- Nail products
- Skin creams
...could expose you to cancer-causing chemicals without your knowledge—day after day, year after year.
Who Is Most at Risk?
A recent study by the Silent Spring Institute, Columbia University, and Occidental College focused on Black and Latina women in South Los Angeles. Their findings are both groundbreaking and devastating:
- 53% of participants used personal care products that contained formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
- Many of these products were applied daily or even multiple times per day.
- Black women and Latinas are more likely to use products with these toxic ingredients—often due to racialized beauty standards, hair discrimination, and targeted marketing.
This isn’t just a public health issue. It’s a racial justice issue. For too long, communities of color have been overlooked and under-protected by regulatory agencies. Now, the consequences are becoming impossible to ignore.
The Link to Cancer
Scientists and public health experts have warned about formaldehyde’s health dangers for years. The chemical is known to increase the risk of several types of cancer, including:
- Uterine cancer
- Breast cancer
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Lymphohematopoietic cancers (like leukemia)
In one of the most concerning trends, uterine and breast cancers have been found at elevated rates among Black women who frequently use hair relaxers and other chemically-laden products. These findings have led researchers to call for immediate changes in how personal care products are tested, labeled, and regulated.
But for many, those changes may come too late.
Why Weren’t We Warned About the Dangers of Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives?
If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard about these risks before, you’re not alone.
The United States lags behind other countries in regulating personal care products. In the European Union, for example:
- Formaldehyde has been banned from cosmetics since 2009.
- Products containing FRPs must carry clear warning labels.
- Many potentially harmful ingredients are restricted or banned outright.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., manufacturers are not required to fully disclose the presence of FRPs. Ingredient names like “DMDM hydantoin” or “quaternium-15” are confusing and often unrecognizable to the average consumer. These substances do not include the word "formaldehyde," even though they can expose users to it regularly.
In short, you shouldn’t need to be a chemist to protect yourself from dangerous chemicals in products sold in your local store.
Understanding the Chemicals
Let’s break down a few of the most commonly found formaldehyde-releasing preservatives:
DMDM Hydantoin
This chemical is the most frequently found FRP in personal care products. It releases formaldehyde slowly over time and is found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and more. It has been linked to:
- Allergic reactions
- Contact dermatitis
- Increased risk of cancer due to cumulative exposure
Diazolidinyl Urea
Used in skincare products, this FRP also releases formaldehyde and can cause skin irritation, particularly in those with sensitivities. Long-term exposure is of growing concern to researchers.
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Found in some moisturizers, creams, and cosmetics. Like the others, it’s a silent contributor to formaldehyde exposure.
These chemicals were never meant to be absorbed into your skin every day, but for millions of people, that’s exactly what’s happening.
The Emotional Toll
Living with cancer or watching a loved one suffer is devastating. Learning that a trusted personal care routine may have contributed to that suffering only adds to the pain.
You might be asking:
- “How could this happen?”
- “Why wasn’t I warned?”
- “Do I have any legal options?”
At LitigationConnect, we believe that no one should carry these questions alone. Our mission is to connect you with legal professionals who care, who understand the complex science behind these cases, and who will fight to uncover the truth and pursue accountability on your behalf.
Where Things Stand Legally
As of now, no national mass tort or class action lawsuit has been certified for formaldehyde in personal care products. However, the research is new, and lawyers are actively investigating these claims.
You may be eligible to file an individual claim if you or someone you love:
- Used personal care products regularly (especially hair relaxers, lotions, or body washes), and
- Has been diagnosed with cancer, especially uterine or breast cancer
Attorneys are evaluating these cases now, and the sooner you speak with someone, the better your chances of building a strong legal foundation.
These early evaluations are free and confidential. There’s no risk in reaching out, just the possibility of finding support, answers, and perhaps justice.
The Road Ahead
Change is possible, but it starts with people speaking up. Lawsuits like these have the power to do more than compensate victims. They:
- Uncover what companies knew and when
- Pressure lawmakers to enact stronger consumer protections
- Force product recalls and ingredient bans
- Empower others to come forward with their stories
If you've suffered harm from these products, your voice matters. And at LitigationConnect, we're here to amplify it.
How LitigationConnect Can Help You Seek Justice
You’ve learned about the hidden dangers in personal care products. You’ve seen the evidence that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives may have exposed millions to toxic chemicals, and that many victims, particularly Black and Latina women, were unknowingly at greater risk. Now, the most important question is:
What can you do about it?
At LitigationConnect, we exist to help people like you take action. Whether you're seeking answers about a cancer diagnosis or simply trying to understand if the products you’ve used are linked to known toxins, we are here to guide you through every step of the process.
The first step is simple—and it's free. LitigationConnect connects you with experienced legal professionals who are actively evaluating cases related to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives in personal care products.
Your consultation is:
- Free of charge
- Completely confidential
- Risk-free—there’s no obligation to file a lawsuit
During this call, an attorney or intake specialist will listen carefully to your story. They may ask:
- What personal care products you’ve used (and for how long)
- Whether you have been diagnosed with cancer, and if so, which type
- Your age, background, and any history of long-term exposure
- Any relevant medical or product documentation you can provide
This is not a sales pitch. It’s a conversation—one that can give you the clarity and confidence to make informed decisions about your next steps.
What Kinds of Cases Are Being Considered?
While no formal mass torts have yet been filed, legal teams are currently evaluating individual claims related to:
- Uterine cancer
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia and other blood cancers
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Other cancers linked to formaldehyde exposure
These cases often involve long-term use of products that contain DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, or other formaldehyde releasers. Products commonly involved include:
- Hair relaxers and straightening treatments
- Leave-in conditioners, edge control products, and curl creams
- Body lotions and moisturizers
- Shampoos and cleansers
- Eyelash glue and nail hardeners
Even if you’re not sure what was in the products you used, it’s still worth reaching out. Many people didn’t know what they were putting on their skin—because manufacturers never made it clear.
Why Work with LitigationConnect?
Not every law firm is equipped to handle complex cases involving toxic exposure and product safety. At LitigationConnect, we focus exclusively on mass torts, product liability, and environmental justice issues. We work with top-tier attorneys across the country who have decades of experience in holding negligent manufacturers accountable.
What sets us apart:
- Extensive Experience
We stay on the cutting edge of medical and scientific developments, tracking emerging research on chemical exposure and consumer safety. That means your legal team will be well-prepared with the latest evidence supporting your claim.
- Clear Communication
You’ll never be left in the dark. From your first call to your case evaluation and beyond, we make sure you understand your options and feel empowered at every stage.
- Client-Centered Advocacy
We know you’ve been through enough already. That’s why we work with attorneys who treat clients with compassion and respect—always putting your needs first.
- Nationwide Reach
Whether you’re in California, New York, Texas, or anywhere in between, we can connect you with a local attorney who understands your state’s laws and court systems.
What to Expect if You Have a Personal Care Products Case
If you qualify to move forward, your legal team will take the lead in building your case. That may involve:
- Gathering medical records
- Reviewing the products you used and how often you used them
- Investigating whether those products contained formaldehyde or FRPs
- Consulting with scientific experts to evaluate the link between your exposure and diagnosis
- Filing a lawsuit, if appropriate
You won’t have to pay anything upfront. These cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means your legal team only gets paid if they win compensation for you.
Depending on how the legal landscape develops, your case could proceed as an individual lawsuit, or it may eventually become part of a broader coordinated legal action (like a mass tort). Your attorneys will explain the strategy and timeline as your case progresses.
What Types of Compensation Could Be Available?
If your case is successful, you could receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses (including cancer treatment, medication, and long-term care)
- Lost income and future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages (if a loved one passed away from a related cancer)
Each case is unique, and outcomes can vary. But these lawsuits aren’t just about money—they’re about accountability, awareness, and systemic change.
Why Now Is the Time to Act
Emerging science is often the first spark in the fight for justice. This is one of those moments. The research on formaldehyde and its link to personal care products is still new, but it's gaining traction. The longer you wait, the harder it may become to gather the documentation and product evidence needed to support your claim.
Don’t wait for a national lawsuit to take shape. Don’t wait for government agencies to catch up. If you or a loved one has already been diagnosed with cancer, the time to act is now.
By sharing your story, you’re not only taking control of your own future—you’re helping to protect others from the same hidden dangers.
Discuss Your Case with Trusted Dangerous Products Lawyers
If you’ve used personal care products—like hair relaxers, lotions, or cosmetics—and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be facing questions no one prepared you for. You might feel overwhelmed, angry, or simply exhausted from trying to piece together what went wrong. You are not alone.
At LitigationConnect, we believe in the power of truth, justice, and people coming together to demand accountability. We connect individuals like you with compassionate, experienced legal professionals who are actively evaluating claims involving formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals in personal care products.
Your story matters. And the first step is simple: reach out. No cost. No pressure. Just answers.
A free, confidential consultation can help you understand your rights and explore whether you may have a legal claim. It could also be the beginning of a path toward healing, justice, and real change—not just for you, but for others facing the same silent danger.
Don’t wait. Contact us today at (833) 552-7274 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation and take the first step toward the justice you deserve.