Victoria's Secret bras blamed for skin condition
SEATTLE -- A lawsuit has unveiled a possible health risk involving the world-famous lingerie company Victoria's Secret.
Roberta Ritter filed a lawsuit against the company after the bras she bought from the company, namely the Angels Secret Embrace Bra and the Very Sexy Extreme Push-Up Bra, had a strange effect on her skin.
"I had the welts and the very red hot to the touch extremely inflamed blistery. It itched profusely," she said. "I was just utterly sick."
And Ritter's attorneys said dozens of other women have had similar problems with the company's bras, and they're interested in joining a potential class action lawsuit.
The Web site MedHelp.org lists several complaints from women who claim Victoria's Secret bras gave them terrible rashes.
"My chest kept developing red like welts and bumps. They (the doctors) couldn't figure it out," one user wrote. "I didn't realize that all these sicknesses can and are related to the formaldehyde in their products!"
"Every time I wear a Victoria Secret Bra I get burned underneath my breast line and chest line," another user wrote.
Ritter said she was shocked to learn there were others in her shoes.
"I was floored. I thought I'd have to come out with this the can of worms that have to be opened," she said. "It's not just me; it's other people as well."
Ritter's attorneys said several Victoria's Secret bras they bought and sent to a lab tested positive for formaldehyde -- the chemical, according to Ritter's doctor, that could have caused the rash as a form of allergic reaction.
Victoria's Secret responded to the claims and said it has strict quality control measures in place and does not use formaldehyde in its bras. The company added it wants to help find out what caused the allergic reactions in some of the customers.
Roberta Ritter filed a lawsuit against the company after the bras she bought from the company, namely the Angels Secret Embrace Bra and the Very Sexy Extreme Push-Up Bra, had a strange effect on her skin.
"I had the welts and the very red hot to the touch extremely inflamed blistery. It itched profusely," she said. "I was just utterly sick."
And Ritter's attorneys said dozens of other women have had similar problems with the company's bras, and they're interested in joining a potential class action lawsuit.
The Web site MedHelp.org lists several complaints from women who claim Victoria's Secret bras gave them terrible rashes.
"My chest kept developing red like welts and bumps. They (the doctors) couldn't figure it out," one user wrote. "I didn't realize that all these sicknesses can and are related to the formaldehyde in their products!"
"Every time I wear a Victoria Secret Bra I get burned underneath my breast line and chest line," another user wrote.
Ritter said she was shocked to learn there were others in her shoes.
"I was floored. I thought I'd have to come out with this the can of worms that have to be opened," she said. "It's not just me; it's other people as well."
Ritter's attorneys said several Victoria's Secret bras they bought and sent to a lab tested positive for formaldehyde -- the chemical, according to Ritter's doctor, that could have caused the rash as a form of allergic reaction.
Victoria's Secret responded to the claims and said it has strict quality control measures in place and does not use formaldehyde in its bras. The company added it wants to help find out what caused the allergic reactions in some of the customers.