Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
**Background:** Hair bleaching has become a common cosmetic procedure and the use of cytotoxic chemicals can cause serious burns to the skin. **Methods:** A retrospective case series from 2016 to 2020 in the two major statewide tertiary referral burns centres in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.88914 |
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| Summary: | **Background:** Hair bleaching has become a common cosmetic procedure and the use of cytotoxic chemicals can cause serious burns to the skin.
**Methods:** A retrospective case series from 2016 to 2020 in the two major statewide tertiary referral burns centres in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
**Results:** We present 14 patients (mean age 27 years) with skin burns secondary to hair-bleaching procedures. The majority of these burns had full thickness components (71%, n = 10) requiring grafting surgery (n = 6). The mean size of all burns was 0.6 per cent (0.1%–2.5%) of total body surface area. One patient received adequate first aid at the time of injury. Most burns occurred in a professional setting (71%, n = 10).
**Conclusion:** This case series highlights the dangerous nature of hair-bleaching chemicals. Rigorous education, training, first aid management, and clear informed consent between proceduralists and clients are needed in order to prevent this physiologically and psychologically debilitating accidental injury. |
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| ISSN: | 2209-170X |