For many people throughout the country there is no end to the price they will pay to attain a certain level of beauty. Facials, regular manicures, pedicures and even plastic surgery are routinely undertaken by people throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Another procedure some with curly hair decide to undergo is hair straightening. It is likely that few paying for that service want to be exposed to a dangerous product.

Many who seek straight hair visit their stylist where a relatively new and popular product line, Brazilian Blowout is used to perform a treatment that removes the curl. Historically, the labeling on the product has indicated that there is no formaldehyde in it. Those who fork over up to $500 per treatment and the stylists providing the service should be aware of a recent change to the labeling of the product.

As the result of a lawsuit filed by the California state attorney's general's office, the company that produces the product, GIB LLC, will change the labeling. The lawsuit stems from a report filed by the FDA that reportedly found between 8.7 and 10.4 percent of the carcinogen. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that an occupational hazard alert be issued when a level of 0.1 is discovered.

According to the FDA, exposure to the gas can result in a variety of health issues to one's eyes, respiratory tract and nervous system. The symptoms are numerous and include:

•· headache

•· cough

•· blurred vision

•· hypotrichosis

•· chest discomfort

•· vomiting

•· rash

•· nausea

•· chest pain

In addition to the label change, GIB has also paid penalties and fines totaling $600,000.

Source: The Miami Herald, "Brazilian Blowout hair treatment ruled carcinogenic," John Platt, Feb. 2, 2012