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: Omar Noori, Peter Maitz, Jeon Cha, Andrea C Issler-Fisher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons 2024-06-01
Series:Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.88914
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author Omar Noori
Peter Maitz
Jeon Cha
Andrea C Issler-Fisher
author_facet Omar Noori
Peter Maitz
Jeon Cha
Andrea C Issler-Fisher
author_sort Omar Noori
collection DOAJ
description **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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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2024-06-01
publisher Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
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spelling doaj-art-d35bf0fc0f9d4fadb82a83de3405002b2025-08-20T02:07:20ZengAustralian Society of Plastic SurgeonsAustralasian Journal of Plastic Surgery2209-170X2024-06-017210.34239/ajops.88914Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case seriesOmar NooriPeter MaitzJeon ChaAndrea C Issler-Fisher**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.https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.88914
spellingShingle Omar Noori
Peter Maitz
Jeon Cha
Andrea C Issler-Fisher
Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
title Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
title_full Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
title_fullStr Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
title_full_unstemmed Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
title_short Chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach: a retrospective case series
title_sort chemical burns to scalp from hair bleach a retrospective case series
url https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.88914
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AT petermaitz chemicalburnstoscalpfromhairbleacharetrospectivecaseseries
AT jeoncha chemicalburnstoscalpfromhairbleacharetrospectivecaseseries
AT andreacisslerfisher chemicalburnstoscalpfromhairbleacharetrospectivecaseseries