Chemical In Shampoo May Cause Hair To Fall Out, Lawsuit Claims

An Illinois woman filed a class-action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson this week, claiming that some products in the company's line of OGX shampoos and conditioners cause significant hair loss and scalp irritation from containing a chemical known to produce formaldehyde.

Larissa Whipple filed the lawsuit after she discovered the products contain DMDM hydantoin, WZTV in Nashville reported.

“At least one ingredient in the products, DMDM hydantoin, is a formaldehyde donor known to slowly leave formaldehyde when coming into contact with water,” the lawsuit states.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies formaldehyde as a carcinogen, meaning exposure to the chemical may cause cancer in humans. Exposure to formaldehyde, in particular, is known to cause leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society.

DMDM hydantoin is listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a preservative found in cosmetic products that also can cause allergic reactions.

Specific OGX products mentioned in the lawsuit include:

• OGX Biotin + Collagen shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Detox + Pomegranate & Ginger shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Marula Oil shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Midnight Kisses shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Mistletoe Wishes shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Nicole Guerriero Ice Berry Queen shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair and Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Ever Straightening and Brazilian Keratin Therapy shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Candy Gumdrop shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Frosted Sugar Cookie shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Kandee Johnson Sparkling Cider shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls shampoo and conditioner
• OGX Hydrate + Defrizz and Kukui Oil conditioner
• OGX Youth Enhancing + Sake Essence conditioner

OGX products are sold at most drug and cosmetic stores, including Target, Ulta, CVS, Walmart and Walgreens.

In the lawsuit, Whipple claims the company targeted those wanting healthy hair by using words like “nourish,” “revive” and “soften” on OGX bottles. In doing so, the suit claims the company may have violated certain consumer protection laws.

While Johnson & Johnson removed DMDM hydantoin from its products in 2012, the suit claims that when the company acquired OGX through its purchase of Vogue International, it did not apply the same safety standards to Vogue products.

Read the full lawsuit filed in Illinois district court.