Wen Shampoo range being blamed for Female Hair Loss

Hundreds of women in American have begun legal action after complaining that a popular celebrity-endorsed shampoo range has made their hall start to fall out.

Hollywood hairstylist Chaz Dean is the creator of the Wen products and sells them through his website, whilst infomercial firm Guthy-Renker market them; both have been hit with a lawsuit.
According to NY Daily News, there are more than 200 women across 40 states that have impleaded into a class-action lawsuit against the haircare company Wen. The lawsuit states that the products worsened hair loss within a matter of weeks.

Meanwhile, many women have took to the internet – specifically Wen’s Facebook page – to voice their anger, complaining they have developed bald spots and even posting picture evidence of the hair loss visible on their scalp.

However, it isn’t just a few strands falling out, in some cases it seems to be massive clumps which are coming out, with irreparable damage caused say some complainants. One woman wrote: “I can’t leave my house. I’m depressed…I’m overwhelmed and frustrated [and] I cry when I look in the mirror.”

Moreover, within the court documents, a woman named Amy Friedman explained how she had purchased the Wen Sweet Almond Mint basic kit in January of 2014 for $29.95 and two weeks later, her hair begun to fall out. After stopping using the product soon after, she still ended up losing ‘one quarter to one third’ of her hair and had to spend a lot of money buying hair extensions to cover bald areas.

Other problems women are listing linked to the Wen shampoo products include scalp burn, itchiness and rashes, resulting in unsightly sores on the scalp.

The lawsuit is claiming that the Wen products, which include the Cleansing Conditioner, were responsible for the hair damage.

Chaz Dean and his Wen range has a long-list of A-list celebrity endorsers such as actresses Brook Shields, Alyssa Milano and Christina Applegate.

Wen hair products promise to strengthen hair by the use of no additives or harmful chemicals. Their website states, ‘What sets Wen apart is its cleansing conditioner, a single-step process that cleanses and conditions the hair simultaneously.

‘The cleansers include a perfect blend of special ingredients, including natural botanicals and herbs…’

Unfortunately, scorers of women are now coming forward to demonstrate truly frightening side effects. The complaint in the lawsuit alleges that the conditioners “contain one or more active ingredients that act as a depilatory or caustic agent, causing a chemical reaction that damages the hair strands and/or follicle.”

Whilst Wen have released a statement saying there is no scientific proof their products are causing the women’s hair loss, and that they intend to vigorously contest the allegations, attorney Amy Davis, who is representing those affected, has suggested a possible reason.

Speaking to CBS News, she commented: “What we understand about the product and how it causes hair loss is it contains virtually no cleanser. It’s like using lotion to wash your hair, so instead of removing the product, when you rinse it off, it just becomes impacted in your hair follicle.”
Whatever happens next will be interesting to see, but in the meantime, Wen’s Facebook page is certainly compiling complaints thick and fast.

For both men and women, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy can provide hair loss treatments Regaine Foam or Regaine Lotion, as featured in numerous television adverts. Regaine products contain the active ingredient Minoxidil; clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss. Minoxidil works by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles, helping to strengthen existing hair and stimulate secondary hair growth.

Women suffering with female hair loss also have the option of the over-the-counter treatment Florisene® – strongly recommended as an addition to any female hair loss treatment. Florisene® is especially recommended for women who have reduced hair volume (compared with several years ago) or who have recently noticed hair shedding as seen by more hairs in the brush, comb or when shampooing.

The common causes of hair loss explained

Hair loss can be a deeply distressing experience for many people and the cause of a huge loss of self-esteem, even resulting in depression and severely impacting a person’s social life.
Although primarily attributed to men, hair loss can happen to both men and women. Many do not realise, but there are actually around 8 million women in the UK alone who are suffering with some degree as hair loss.

Even celebrities are prone to suffering with hair loss, with Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney forking out thousands of pounds on multiple hair transplants in the last two years in a rather costly and apparently futile bid to fight his thinning hair.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy have previously looked at some of the best foods for healthy hair, but what a large number of our patients want to know is why they have lost hair in the first place.
Obviously there is a familial aspect when considering causes of hair loss as baldness tends to be hereditary. Looking at parents, grandparents, etc. can usually give you a good idea regarding your chances of keeping hold of a strong and healthy head of hair. You only have to look at Prince William, his father Prince Charles, and Prince William’s grandfather Prince Philip to see how genetics plays its part in hair loss.

In many cases, there are numerous ways to treat male hair loss and female hair loss such as Propecia (for men), Dianette (for women) and Regaine (for men and women), just to name a few.
However, here Medical Specialists list some of the common causes of hair loss:

. Male pattern baldness (MPB)

So common that many would barely bat an eyelid upon seeing a male who is experiencing MPB.  By the age of 60, two thirds of men will have experienced hair loss which is typified by the hair receding at the temples and leaving behind an ‘M’-shaped hairline. Fortunately, topical treatments such as Minoxidil (Regaine) and oral medications such as Finasteride (Propecia) can halt the process and even regrow hair in some cases.

. Physical stress

Physical trauma such as surgery, a car accident or severe illness can cause temporary hair loss. This type of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium and usually involves widespread thinning of the hair on the scalp rather than bald patches. The hair may feel thinner than before but then begin to grow back properly within around six months.

. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common condition affecting millions of women in the UK and alters the way in which a woman’s ovaries function. The three main features are having high levels of ‘androgens’ (male hormones), ovaries that do not regularly ovulate (release eggs), and cysts that develop within the ovaries.  Just two of these lead to a diagnosis of PCOS. Whilst PCOS can cause facial hair growth, it may also result in thinning hair and hair loss. Many cases of PCOS are treated through birth control pills such as Yasmin, which blocks testosterone via its potent anti-androgen. Should you be unable to take birth control pills, you may be prescribed Spironolactone by your doctor.

. Pregnancy

Hair loss related to pregnancy normally occurs after delivery of the baby, instead of during pregnancy. Whilst a woman is pregnant, many hairs enter into a resting phase – part of the normal hair cycle.  The average head can lose around 100 hairs a day, but not all at once, so it is not noticeable. Pregnancy results in your hormones preventing those hairs from falling out, resulting in thicker and fuller hair. However, when the hormones return to normal, the extra hairs will start shedding.  You are not balding – your hair is just beginning the process of getting back to how it was in your pre-pregnancy state. Hair loss during pregnancy is much less common and should be discussed with your doctor as it could be the result of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

. Lack of protein

Although there is little scientific evidence to definitely state a particular diet has a direct impact on hair growth, it is generally believed that if you are not getting enough protein in your diet, this can be bad for hair growth as hair itself is mostly made of protein. Therefore, a protein deficiency could cause dry or brittle hair, or hair loss in certain cases. Some foods rich in protein which are great for healthy hair include: eggs, nuts, salmon, chicken, whole grains and beans.

. Lack of iron

If you are losing hair, there is a chance you may have an iron deficiency.  Iron helps to create red blood cells and these work at transporting oxygen around the body. If there is not enough oxygen, the hair bulb may be unable to generate new hair cells, resulting in much slower hair growth. Some foods rich in iron which could help against hair loss include: dried fruit, beans, red meat, liver, egg yolks, molluscs, spinach, nuts, dark chocolate, tofu and whole grains.  If you suspect you may be suffering from anaemia and this is causing your hair loss, you should be first diagnosed by your own doctor, who can carry out a simple blood test. It is not advised to start taking iron supplements on your own accord and risk overloading on iron, which can be very dangerous.

. Lupus

The autoimmune disease Lupus causes the body’s own immune system to attack healthy tissue. The hair loss could be mild and happen whilst shampooing or brushing your hair. If the hair loss is more severe, it may fall out in patches and there is usually a rash that appears on the scalp.