Wen By Chaz Dean Being Investigated By The Fda

joy2day

Well-Known Member
Hi ladies,

Forgive me if this has already been posted ... Be careful if you are using Wen products ...

FROM NPR
Problems After Using Hair Conditioner Prompt An FDA Warning
July 25, 201612:43 PM ET
Natalie Jacewicz

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Wen cleansing conditioners combine the functions of a shampoo and a conditioner. The FDA says it is investigating consumer complaints about the products. Jesse Grant/WireImage for Kari Feinstein PR/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption Jesse Grant/WireImage for Kari Feinstein PR/Getty Images
Wen cleansing conditioners combine the functions of a shampoo and a conditioner. The FDA says it is investigating consumer complaints about the products.

Jesse Grant/WireImage for Kari Feinstein PR/Getty Images
Hair products aren't at the top of most people's health worry list, but the Food and Drug Administration is investigating a surprisingly high number of reports of problems after people used a particular cleansing conditioner.

As of July 7, the FDA had received 127 complaints of "hair loss, hair breakage, balding, itching, and rash" after people used Wen by Chaz Dean cleansing conditioner products — more reports than the agency has ever received for a cosmetic hair product.

"This kind of report is very rare," says Paradi Mirmirani, a dermatologist in Vallejo, Calif. "For the most part, shampoo products out there are all very safe." The agency's safety alert says it has not determined a possible cause for the problems reported.

Late last year, mediation began for a class-action lawsuit in California against Guthy-Renker, the company that markets and manufactures Wen.

The FDA doesn't approve cosmetics before they go on the market, though it does set upper limits for bacteria in cosmetics and hygiene products. Instead, says Linda Katz, director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, the agency monitors consumer complaints for many factors to decide whether to investigate a product.

In this case, the sheer number of complaints played a role in the decision. The agency says it is investigating more than 21,000 complaints reported to Chaz Dean Inc. and Guthy-Renker. (Gianna Cesa, a PR representative for Chaz Dean, says the company did not receive this number of complaints.)

Katz says she can't discuss any working hypotheses associated with the investigation, though she did say investigators have no reason to believe the product was contaminated with something foreign, like microbes. For now, the FDA is still gathering information. Officials will look at the product's quality testing and whether there have been any changes to how the product is made.

In an email, a spokesman for Chaz Dean said the company stands behind its products and that "the brand has consistently cooperated with the FDA and will continue to do so."

Dermatologists say hair care products can cause these sorts of symptoms. One common reason is allergy.


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"There are thousands of ingredients that are in personal hair products," says Bruce Brod, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. "While most people in the population won't react to them, there's a small subpopulation that will."

Common allergy triggers include surfactants, the ingredients in shampoos and conditioners that make them sudsy, as well as preservatives that increase shelf life and chemicals used to create fragrances.

These allergic reactions can occur regardless of whether a product is "all natural," says Mirmirani. "Lots of plants give people a reaction as well," she says, citing poison oak as an example. And because allergic reactions can take a while to occur, people may not immediately realize a hair product is causing issues.

But there are also causes of scalp problems that have nothing to do with cosmetics, says Nicole Rogers, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane Medical School. For example, she says, male-pattern or female-pattern baldness are both common causes of hair loss. Or a patient could suffer from alopecia areata, a disease in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. She says she believes it's unlikely the consumers' complaints are tied to Wen.

Stress, changes in diet and pregnancy can cause hair loss as well, says Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist who serves as a consultant to Chaz Dean's PR firm.

That said, all the doctors told Shots that people with scalp problems should visit a dermatologist and discuss hair products, along with other possible factors. Doctors can do allergy tests on patients to analyze as many as 55 potential allergy triggers. It's important, says Brod, to look at all potential causes of symptoms, rather than looking at Internet chat rooms alone.

"Often, there's a suggestive herd effect," he says. "If somebody says, 'I'm using something and it itches my scalp,' the person next to him will say, 'You know what? Me too.' "

Katz of the FDA also urges people to visit doctors in addition to reporting complaints to the FDA. And if someone decides to switch from Wen to a different conditioner, Mirmirani says, "There's plenty more out there."
 
^^It's hard to tell what the cause could be ... different styling products possibly reacting to something in the Wen cleansers, who knows. I know I used to read here that there were quite a few "Wen heads" on here, so I wanted to post this when I saw it this morning.
 
I know someone who swears by wen. She's been using it for years.
I wonder if people were simply allergic.
How many times did they have to use it before they knew it was the Wen. Were any of the issues evident after one time?

The whole situation is scary and unfortunate.
 
Thanks for sharing. I really think they did some funny stuff to the formula when Chaz hit the big time. I used it for about 3 years without issue. When he started cashing out on QVC was about time I started getting rash, itchy scalp and hair loss. I discontinued use and it cleared up quickly. I hope they really do a thorough investigation so it doesn't happen to more people.
 
21,000 suggestive herd effect complaints? Nope. Could be the source of their essential oils or some other surfactant, preservative. Remember when EOS lip balm caused rashes? I got one as well and couldn't figure out from where. There's a chemical company supplying materials with preservatives and/or some contaminant they are not appropriately testing for as it previously wasn't a cause for concern, imo.
 
I definitely suffered severe shedding from 613 after only using it a few times. I'm a product junkie/kitchen beautician who washes and conditions my hair several times a week; so I know for sure that something's up with that product. At minimum, there's an ingredient or two that a lot of us have had a bad reaction to.
 
I never used wen as an actual scalp cleanser. It was just a regular conditioner for me. Actually I try not to use any conditioner on the scalp like it's a shampoo. I never liked that concept anyway. Too much build up.

My mom is a wen user and was drinking the kool-aid that it's all she needed as a hair cleanser. I told her early on u need to still be using a shampoo on ur scalp.
 
Thanks for sharing, I've used Wen for 9 years and have never had ANY issues. The 613 cleansing conditioner is a staple for me and I use it every week and will continue. I pray all those affected will find answers.

I am with you about 9 years or more practically exclusively and I have had no issues...just re-upped the gallons and sending my daughter to college with 1 gallon of seasonal and 1 gallon of 613. :)
 
@Lucie I used wen and thought I loved it. I started losing hair in clumps but I also had a lot going on and coupled with a poor diet I didn't give it much thought. IT completely ruined my hair, I have very thick but fine luscious hair and it became dull and thin. Back to my mane and tail.

I thought it was you. I am glad you no longer use it!
 
Wen gave me the most digusting scalp build up and dandruff. Plus it is expensive. Using other products, I cowash and clarify regularly now with no issues.
 
@Lucie I used wen and thought I loved it. I started losing hair in clumps but I also had a lot going on and coupled with a poor diet I didn't give it much thought. IT completely ruined my hair, I have very thick but fine luscious hair and it became dull and thin. Back to my mane and tail.

@Zaynab Has your hair recovered from the damage? That is the worst when you have to nurse your hair back from damage like that.
 
I had only purchased one of the 16 oz sets of 3 when I first heard about it in maybe 2008 or 2009. I never bought another set, thankfully. I'm sorry for the people that were negatively affected by it. My scalp needs shampoo so I actually shampooed my hair and scalp in between using the WEN. With the WEN, I liked the tingle on my scalp though.
 
I have had zero issues with wen but then again as I stated in another thread I primarily use the seasonal formulas that don't have menthol in it. And it never replaced regular shampooing.

However now that I have locs I will not be repurchasing. I now use the left over cleansers to wash my face with my clarisonic. I still use his essential oils though. My fav is the The bamboo green tea oil. It cleared up my acne. And I use the tea tree and eucalyptus oil as a natural mosquito repellent.
 
I use wen and have for what seems forever. I did experience shedding with fig. I think I was just way to moisturizing. I am now using pomegranate. I don't experience any problems. I know if I feel I am losing too much hair, I put in a protein. I think Wen is extremely moisturizing. I never had any issues with 613 either. Love Wen!
 
I used WEN during my first HHJ...but, after hearing all of the issues, I discontinued it...It worked miracles, but I am the type of person that has allergies anyway-- I didn't want it to be just a matter of time before my hair started suffering...Thanks for sharing OP.
 
Glad I found this thread. I had just used some of my old WEN to repair my hair after my Shea Moisture Manuku honey shampoo parched it and was contemplating ordering some more. I think I'll look at the Devacurl no poo line...
 
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