Just for Men Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Burns, Allergic Reactions

According to allegations raised in a new class action lawsuit, side effects of Just for Men hair and beard dye may cause severe burns and allergic reactions, particularly among African American men.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Ronald Povich in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on January 25, seeking class action status to represent all consumers who purchased Just for Men in the state of Missouri.

“Just for Men” is a popular hair and beard dye marketed for removal of grey hair among men. However, a growing number of problems with Just for Men have been reported in recent years, involving severe allergic reactions that have resulted in hospitalization, scarring, infections and other complications.

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Just for Men Lawsuits

Reports of Severe Allergic Reactions and Chemical Burns from "Just for Men" Dye Products May Lead to Lawsuits.

Povice claims that men would not have purchased the hair dye if they were adequately informed about the risk of allergic reactions, and that the manufacturer, Combe Inc., violated state consumer protection laws.

“Defendants knew or should have known that Just For Men products create an unnecessary risk of burns, scarring, allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock, skin depigmentation, and other severe injuries with use including, but not limited to, prolonged and cumulative usage,” the lawsuit states. “In omitting, concealing, and inadequately providing critical safety information regarding the use of Just For Men in order to induce its purchase and use, Defendants engaged in and continue to engage in conduct likely to mislead consumers including Plaintiff and Class Members. This conduct is fraudulent, unfair, and unlawful.”

The complaint suggests that one particular ingredient in Just for Men hair dye, p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), has been linked to severe skin reactions, as well as acute and chronic injuries such as severe dermatitis, kidney failure, vitiligo, convulsions, comas and eczematoid contact dermatitis.

The claim also notes that PPD is known to more frequently cause reactions in African American men and populations of men with darker hair, who were not warned of the increased risk. Combe aggressively targeted African American consumers, despite knowing that they had five times the increased risk of an allergic reaction, according to the lawsuit.

“In fact, PPD is now known as one of, if not the most, common allergens in the African American population, even rivaling nickel which is the leading cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis (‘ACD’) in the world,” the lawsuit states.

Just For Men Allergic Skin Reactions

Reports of Just for Men allergic reactions appear to have become an increasing problem in recent years, with ConsumerAffairs.com noting in 2012 that it had received a number of new complaints involving skin irritation, itching, blisters and chemical burns following Just for Men application.

Consumer Affairs has received more than 400 reports of burns or allergic reactions to “Just for Men” since the group first warned about the risk of allergic reactions in 2012.

Many of the men report using Just for Men dye for years without any issues, which some some suggest may raise questions about whether the manufacturer’s suggestion that users do a “patch test” on a small part of the body may be useless.

Additional Just For Men lawsuits are likely to be filed in the coming months, as a number of individuals throughout the U.S. have already contacted lawyers after suffering injuries that were reportedly caused by the hair and beard dye.

8 Comments

  • MarvinJuly 25, 2023 at 5:24 pm

    Using just for men has caused a severe allergic reaction on my face around my mouth and chin. I had bleeding and severe swelling so bad that I was taking to the emergency room and was given a iv and bent Banophen and steroids. Was there for at least 10 to 12 hrs. Asl sent home with meds.

  • PatrickAugust 8, 2022 at 10:28 pm

    I’ve used it various times and never had a problem except for a bit of burning for a few hrs afterwards. Yrs later I did the dye again , then under my beard chin area it itched, I scratched because the itch was unbearable and continuos, then green puss & then scabs all over. It got better then worse again over a mth or 2. How lucky was I to have had a Dr’s appointment at the Hospital. A rout[Show More]I’ve used it various times and never had a problem except for a bit of burning for a few hrs afterwards. Yrs later I did the dye again , then under my beard chin area it itched, I scratched because the itch was unbearable and continuos, then green puss & then scabs all over. It got better then worse again over a mth or 2. How lucky was I to have had a Dr’s appointment at the Hospital. A routine checkup, I didn’t mention it because it hadn’t itched for bout 2 days. As I’m leaving the the Dr’s office I start shaking , I was freezing then started convulsing , the receptionist saw me and all of a sudden Dr’s and nurses all around me , the team was about 10, they wrapped me in warmed blankets . Thank God it happened there because I was in septic shock and my organs s we’re about to start shutting down. I at worse would have had an accident driving or worse kill someone it was 100% that I wouldn’t have made it to or through the night. I spent 3 wks in the Hodpitsl and had to go to a clinic everyday fo Intravenous antibiotics until I learned how to do it at home. I’m wondering if I have a case to sue them. It’s the second d time that I had septic poisoning. The1st had me in hospital gor 3 mths because of a tear in my intestines during the colon cancer surgery. I then was put in an induced coma, I was dying, I was only allowed to. consume only a 1/2 cup of ice a day , got home with a 45 lb weight loss I developed PTSD, because of this. Bring in a bed for 45 days without getting out , lying in urine and worse, not a way for anyone to dye in. I workout as much as I can to try to be self sufficient as I age. If any of you readers might have more Info to let me know if you think I might of may not have a case. Thx

  • BayardOctober 3, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    After using this product I developed vitiligo on several parts of my body. This started in around 1998. I am not sure of cause but something brought this on my skin.

  • GaryJuly 11, 2019 at 6:35 pm

    I have used Just For Men off and on in my hair for the past two years. I have some of it left over from Walmart in Pineville Mo. I still have sores that come and go scab up and hard to get rid of. I quit using Gust For Men. I'm going to ask my dermatologist to look at my head on my next visit.

  • larry wayne chismMay 15, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    this stuff blister and burnt and itch the heck out of me so bad I called just for men and ask them what could I do to alleiviate the problem she told me to put vasaline on it and that might help well it didn't help she recommended me to stop using it i suffer for a month before it started going away never use it again I still have the unused portion in my bathroom.PS I had scab on my face,try to e[Show More]this stuff blister and burnt and itch the heck out of me so bad I called just for men and ask them what could I do to alleiviate the problem she told me to put vasaline on it and that might help well it didn't help she recommended me to stop using it i suffer for a month before it started going away never use it again I still have the unused portion in my bathroom.PS I had scab on my face,try to explain that to your friends asking you whats going on with your skin!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • wayneJanuary 28, 2016 at 7:24 pm

    it burned places all over my scalp, some big as my small finger nail , it itched, blisterd , then scabed over and itched, i use a diffrent brand all together now with no problems,

  • RudolphJanuary 28, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    Wow I buy just for men

  • GeorgeJanuary 28, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    I have use this product twice and I'm both occasions I have a list going around my lips burns on my chin I had lasted more than two weeks

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