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Beauty Products Cause Thousands of ER Eye Injuries
12 Oct
Summary
- Nearly 42,500 people visited U.S. ERs for cosmetic eye injuries since 2005.
- Women and girls make up 82% of eye injury cases from beauty products.
- Chemical burns are common in children, while adults suffer cuts and heat burns.
Thousands of individuals are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for eye injuries caused by everyday beauty products. A study analyzing data from 2005 to 2024 revealed nearly 42,500 such injuries, with women and girls constituting 82% of those affected. The average age of patients was 24, but children four and under represented nearly a quarter of the cases.
For patients under 18, chemical burns accounted for 46% of eye injuries, often resulting from children accessing products like skincare, fragrances, nail cosmetics, sprays, and shampoo without supervision. In contrast, adults most frequently experienced cuts, bruises, and abrasions, making up 56% of their eye injuries, followed by heat burns.
Researchers emphasized the need for safer storage of cosmetic and personal care items to prevent childhood injuries. For older individuals, greater care when handling heated styling tools and grooming instruments is advised to reduce accidental harm.
