What Causes Keratin Hair Loss?

Although keratin is often touted as a way to improve hair health and appearance, the protein may actually be linked with increased hair loss.

What Is Keratin?

Keratin is a type of protein that is created by the human body, and can also be derived from the wool, horns, or feathers of other animals. Keratin is found in people’s skin, nails, and hair, as well as in internal organs.

The protein coats the hair shaft and forms a protective layer around each piece of hair. However, this layer can be damaged. People who use hot curling or straightening irons on their hair, use excessive products, or treat or dye their hair with harsh chemicals may damage their keratin. Hair with damaged keratin is often dry, frizzy, or prone to breakage. In order to combat the side effects caused by keratin damage, many people turn to keratin hair treatments or shampoos.

Where Does Keratin Come From?

Keratin is created naturally by people and animals. The keratin included in cosmetics and hair products is usually sourced from animal parts, such as hooves, hair, feathers, or horns. Keratin is not made synthetically.

How Does Keratin Shampoo Work?

There are several kinds of keratin treatments. While salons may offer professional keratin treatments, which can break the bonds in hair in order to smooth out frizz, you may also be tempted by at-home keratin products. Keratin shampoo is a popular hair product that may claim to improve the appearance and texture of the hair, as well as reducing frizz and breakage.

Keratin shampoo works by covering the hair shafts with a new protective coating. This coating may be made of keratin, or it may include other substances such as silicone. This added coating may protect the hair from future damage, as well as smoothing it out and improving the texture and look of the hairs.

Is Keratin Shampoo Good for your Hair?

Although they are often recommended to people seeking to improve their hair health, keratin salon treatments and keratin at-home treatments may both cause hair damage and loss. Both types of treatments may contain formaldehyde, a dangerous chemical that is also used in medical laboratories and mortuaries. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, meaning that exposure to the substance may cause cancer. In addition to the risk of cancer, other side effects of formaldehyde exposure may include scratchy eyes, a sore throat, and nose bleeds.

Breathing in the fumes from formaldehyde or getting it on your skin may result in nausea, respiratory troubles such as wheezing, watery or burning eyes, and skin irritation such as a rash or blisters.

Some consumers also claim that after using keratin shampoo or other keratin products that may contain formaldehyde, they began to experience hair loss or visible bald spots. Keratin hair loss may be emotionally distressing, in addition to physically disfiguring.

Can Keratin Shampoo Cause Hair Loss?

Keratin shampoos may cause hair loss if these products contain harsh or dangerous chemicals. Formaldehyde may cause scalp irritation, burning, or inflammation. This inflammation may lead to itching, skin damage, or hair loss.

Unfortunately, there has not been much research into the topic of potential keratin treatment hair loss. However, putting harsh chemicals on your scalp or into your hair may be a bad idea if you have sensitive skin. While keratin treatments may make the hair appear to be healthier, for many consumers it may not be worth the risk of potentially experiencing hair loss.

Have Any Keratin Hair Loss Lawsuits Been Filed?

At least one keratin hair loss lawsuit has been filed by victims who claim they were harmed after using at-home keratin treatments. A class action lawsuit filed regarding Suave Keratin Infusion hair products was initially filed in 2012, and resulted in a $10.2 million settlement. Between 225,000 and 260,000 of the potentially dangerous keratin treatment kits were sold to consumers, many of whom claim that using the kits resulted in injuries including burn, broken or discolored hair, and bald spots.

If you used a keratin home treatment kit and suffered from hair loss or other injuries, you may be eligible to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal rights. Some victims of keratin shampoo hair loss may be able to join or file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of the product, and pursue compensation for injuries, medical expenses, or pain and suffering.

Free Keratin Shampoo Hair Loss Claim Evaluation

If you used a keratin shampoo and suffered from scalp irritation or hair loss, you may be eligible to join this keratin shampoo class action lawsuit investigation.

Attorneys are interested in talking with all consumers affected by this issue, especially consumers from Northern California, Northern Illinois, and New York.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.