If you or a loved one has developed cancer or another serious illness after years of using everyday personal care products—especially those marketed to Black and Latina women—you may be eligible to seek justice and compensation through a personal care products lawsuit. Recent scientific studies have confirmed a disturbing reality: many widely used shampoos, lotions, hair relaxers, and body soaps contain hidden toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) that may pose serious health risks. These products often lack clear labeling, putting millions of people at risk without their knowledge or consent.
At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we are monitoring this issue closely. We understand how overwhelming it can be to learn that something as routine as applying lotion or shampoo may have endangered your health. Our legal team is here to listen, evaluate your situation, and guide you on your options for justice and accountability.
What’s Happening with Personal Care Products?
A groundbreaking study conducted in partnership with institutions like the Silent Spring Institute, Columbia University, and Black Women for Wellness has revealed that more than half of Black and Latina women surveyed used at least one personal care product containing formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-releasing preservative.
These chemicals, added to extend product shelf life or preserve texture, slowly release formaldehyde, a substance classified as a known human carcinogen. This means there is strong evidence that formaldehyde causes cancer in humans. What makes this particularly alarming is that many of these products are applied daily, sometimes multiple times per day, and over large portions of the body. Over time, this chronic exposure may lead to serious health consequences.
The Hidden Risk: Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
You might not see the word “formaldehyde” on the label, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Instead, many manufacturers use formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, a class of chemicals that includes:
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Quaternium-15
- Bronopol
These names may look harmless or even sound technical enough to be trustworthy, but when absorbed through the skin or inhaled, they can slowly release formaldehyde into your system.
The most commonly used of these is DMDM Hydantoin, found in nearly half of the skincare and over half of the hair products flagged in the study. And yet, most people have no idea they are being exposed to it, let alone on a regular basis.
Who Is Most at Risk?
This is more than just a consumer safety issue—it’s a public health crisis that disproportionately affects women of color.
Black and Latina women are frequently marketed specific beauty products that align with Eurocentric beauty standards. Products such as hair relaxers, styling gels, edge control creams, and moisturizing lotions are heavily promoted to these communities. These same products are also the most likely to contain dangerous chemical preservatives.
In fact, according to the study:
- 53% of participants used at least one product with formaldehyde or FRPs.
- Many used these products multiple times per day.
- Certain brands—like Bath & Body Works lotions—were identified repeatedly as containing FRPs.
- Hair straightening products, eyelash glues, facial cleansers, and even nail products were all flagged for containing formaldehyde or FRPs.
These exposures may not seem harmful in isolation. But when compounded—day after day, year after year—they may result in a much higher cumulative toxic load, putting your body at greater risk for developing conditions such as:
- Breast cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Nasopharyngeal or sinonasal cancer
- Leukemia and other blood cancers
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Hormonal and reproductive disorders
Real Harm, Real Lives Affected
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after years of using personal care products that contain formaldehyde or FRPs, you may be feeling betrayed, scared, and unsure of what to do next.
This is not your fault.
Consumers should never have to become chemists to understand if a product is safe. Yet many of these preservatives have complex names and are often not clearly labeled as hazardous, making it nearly impossible for the average person to make an informed decision.
And while countries like those in the European Union have implemented strict labeling laws or outright banned formaldehyde in cosmetics, the United States continues to lag behind. Although the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair straighteners in 2023, it has not yet been enacted. Meanwhile, many state-level bans won’t take effect until this year or later, leaving millions of people still vulnerable to exposure today.
Why You Should Call a Personal Injury Lawyer Now
Although there is currently no certified mass tort litigation underway for formaldehyde in personal care products, new research and public awareness are changing the landscape fast. Manufacturers may soon face legal action for failing to warn consumers about the health risks associated with their products.
At Dolman Law Group, we are currently evaluating cases involving individuals who have developed cancer or other serious illnesses after long-term use of personal care products, especially those containing FRPs like DMDM Hydantoin. If your diagnosis followed years of regular product use, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death (on behalf of a loved one)
We offer free, confidential case evaluations and are available to discuss your concerns without any obligation to pursue a claim.
The Dolman Law Group Difference
When you work with Dolman Law Group, you’re not just hiring an attorney—you’re gaining a dedicated legal team that understands the unique challenges involved in both personal injury and mass tort litigation. Our firm has handled thousands of injury claims nationwide, and we are known for:
- Compassionate, one-on-one attention to every client.
- Rigorous, data-driven case evaluations.
- Aggressive pursuit of the maximum compensation available.
- A proven track record of results in complex injury and product liability cases.
And most importantly: We believe you.
Nationwide Representation with a Local Approach
The Dolman Law Group works with local counsel in any jurisdiction outside Florida for the purpose of filing lawsuits in jurisdictions wherein we are not licensed. Thus, we will follow each State’s ethical rules to ensure a local attorney is involved.
No matter where you live in the U.S., our team can evaluate your case and connect you with trusted legal professionals in your area. With offices throughout Florida and a nationwide network, we’re ready to help individuals and families in every corner of the country.
What Does the Research Say?
The recent Taking Stock Study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters, has been a wake-up call. Conducted in collaboration with institutions like Silent Spring Institute and Black Women for Wellness, the study followed 70 Black and Latina women in South Los Angeles who logged every personal care product they used over a one-week period.
What they discovered was shocking:
- Over 1,100 products were analyzed.
- 53% of women used at least one product containing formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (FRP).
- Products included everything from lotions, shampoos, and conditioners to eyelash glue and body wash.
- Most of these products were used daily or multiple times per day.
The most commonly found preservative was DMDM Hydantoin, followed by diazolidinyl urea and imidazolidinyl urea—all of which are capable of releasing formaldehyde, a substance definitively linked to various types of cancer.
The implications are devastating, especially when you consider that these chemicals aren’t just in occasional-use items like hair straighteners—they’re in products used daily, all over the body. Over time, this leads to chronic exposure, which increases health risks dramatically.
A Systemic Health Disparity
This is more than an issue of faulty labeling or poor regulation—it’s a matter of environmental justice. Black and Latina women have been disproportionately exposed to harmful ingredients due to targeted marketing of beauty products designed to align with Eurocentric beauty ideals.
From relaxers and skin lighteners to scented lotions and makeup, these products are often:
- Aggressively marketed to women of color
- Sold at major retailers without adequate warning
- Filled with chemicals that are either poorly regulated or completely untested for long-term health effects
For years, consumers in these communities have been unknowingly exposing themselves to toxic chemicals in the pursuit of social acceptance, professional success, and beauty ideals defined by mainstream culture. The consequences of that exposure are only now becoming widely known—and they are tragic.
Can I File a Personal Care Products Case If I’ve Been Affected?
While there is not yet a certified mass tort lawsuit specifically for formaldehyde in personal care products, Dolman Law Group is already speaking with individuals who believe their health has been compromised due to long-term use of these products.
If you or a loved one has developed a serious illness, especially cancer, that may be linked to your use of personal care products, you may have legal options. These include:
- Filing an individual product liability claim against the manufacturer
- Participating in a future mass tort or class action lawsuit, should one develop
- Seeking compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and more
We are currently accepting inquiries from individuals who have used personal care products such as:
- Hair relaxers
- Styling gels or edge control creams
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Moisturizing lotions
- Cosmetics and eyelash glues
- Nail polishes or treatments
We want to hear your story if you were a long-term user of any of these products and have since been diagnosed with:
- Uterine fibroids and cancer
- Breast cancer
- Nasopharyngeal or sinonasal cancer
- Leukemia or lymphoma
- Severe skin conditions such as dermatitis
What to Expect When You Call
At Dolman Law Group, our first priority is listening to you.
When you call us for your free case evaluation, you’ll speak with a compassionate legal professional who will ask about:
- The personal care products you used
- How long and how often you used them
- When and how your symptoms or illness began
- Your medical history and any diagnoses you’ve received
We will carefully evaluate whether your case may be eligible for legal action based on emerging medical and legal findings. If we believe you have a claim, we’ll begin building a detailed case by gathering:
- Medical records
- Product purchase history
- Documentation of damages (e.g., lost income, medical costs)
- Scientific evidence linking the products to your condition
If necessary, we work with local counsel in your jurisdiction to file claims in states where we are not licensed, always in accordance with state ethical rules.
Why Early Action Matters
The legal landscape around toxic personal care products is evolving rapidly. While the FDA has proposed regulations and states like California and Washington have passed legislation banning formaldehyde and certain FRPs in cosmetics, most of these laws won’t take effect until 2025 or later.
This means manufacturers are still selling many of the same products—without meaningful warnings—right now.
Taking legal action early allows you to:
- Preserve evidence (receipts, packaging, witness statements)
- Document your medical condition
- Begin the process of holding manufacturers accountable
Waiting too long may limit your legal rights. Statutes of limitations vary by state, and delays could impact your ability to seek compensation.
The Power of Legal Advocacy
Our firm has a long track record of standing up to powerful corporations. Whether it’s holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for dangerous drugs or representing individuals in complex product liability claims, Dolman Law Group is known for results.
When you choose us, you’re choosing:
- A personal, client-centered approach to legal advocacy
- Nationwide representation with experienced local counsel
- A team that is unafraid to take on large manufacturers
- A legal partner who treats your health, your story, and your rights with dignity and respect
You are not just a case number. You are a person who deserves justice, and we are here to help you fight for it.
Discuss Your Personal Care Products Lawsuit with an Experienced Attorney
No one should suffer simply because they wanted to look or feel their best. If you believe your health has been affected by toxic ingredients in personal care products, don’t wait.
Call Dolman Law Group today at 833-552-7274 or through our online form for a free, confidential case review.
Your voice matters. Your story matters. And with the right legal partner, your path to justice starts here.
The Dolman Law Group works with local counsel in any jurisdiction outside Florida for the purpose of filing lawsuits in jurisdictions wherein we are not licensed. Thus, we will follow each State’s ethical rules to ensure a local attorney is involved.