Do I need medical records?

For an injury claim, yes — hair loss has many causes and records are what connect it to product use. For an economic labelling claim, proof of purchase is generally sufficient.

State limitation periods apply, commonly two to three years, generally running from when the injury and its likely cause became reasonably apparent rather than from first use.

Is DMDM hydantoin banned?

It remains permitted in cosmetics in the United States within limits. The claims concern disclosure of the associated risk rather than a prohibition on use.

OGX Shampoo Lawsuit: The DMDM Hydantoin Hair Loss Claims

What Is Alleged

That DMDM hydantoin, used as a preservative, releases formaldehyde over the life of the product, and that users experienced scalp irritation, inflammation and hair loss as a result. The claim is framed around failure to warn rather than a manufacturing fault.

Injury Claims and Economic Claims Are Different

An injury claim requires medical evidence connecting hair loss to product use, which usually means dermatology records and a documented timeline. An economic claim requires only purchase — the theory being that a product sold without disclosing the risk was worth less than what was paid.

The economic route is far easier to satisfy and is what most class settlements in this area actually compensate.

What Supports an Injury Claim

Dermatology or trichology records, photographs showing progression, the timeline of use against symptom onset, and evidence that other common causes were considered and excluded. Hair loss has many causes, which is precisely why causation is the contested element.

Where This Fits

This page covers one part of a wider set of claims. For the full picture see Shampoo Lawsuits: Hair Loss, Benzene and Labelling Claims, which sets out how the different claims relate to each other and who each one covers.

Before You Act

Thinking About Filing a Claim?