In a new study published in the Clinical Pediatrics journal, researchers estimate more than 64,000 children younger than five years old suffered a cosmetic-related injury during a recent 15-year span. Researchers noted that cosmetic products such as makeup, perfume or shampoo that are not harmful when they are used according to the product’s directions could be harmful to young children who are not aware of the dangers, possibly resulting in severe injuries or even death.
About the Study
Researchers from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital reviewed statistics from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which the United States Consumer Safety Product Safety Commission. This database corrals information about injuries and poisonings that stem from the use of consumer products.
Researchers studied a variety of factors as part of the study, including:
- Type of product
- Site of the injury
- Route of exposure
Researchers included a variety of products in their research, including products that alter or improve a person’s appearance. The researched items included such products as:
- Skin oils
- Makeup
- Nail polish
- Deodorants
- Hair relaxers
- Moisturizers
These products were divided into the following groups: hair care, nail care, skin care, fragrance, and other products (such as makeup and deodorant). They reviewed more than 64,000 injuries that occurred between 2002 and 2016 and the source of them.
Important Study Findings
- The most common injuries stemmed from nail care products with 28.3 percent of the injuries stemming from these products
- Hair care products were responsible for 27 percent of the injuries
- Skin care products were responsible for one-quarter of the injuries
- Fragrances caused
- Cosmetics were the listed cause of 7 child deaths from 1999 through 2015
- Approximately three-quarters of the injuries were caused when children swallowed products while the remainder were due to skin or eye contact
- Hospitalization was most likely when the injury stemmed from hair product exposure
- Hair relaxer and permanent solution were the two products that were most likely to cause a child to be hospitalized. Many children exposed to these products suffered a chemical burn.
- Younger children were more likely to be injured by the products than older children.
Although the study found thousands of instances involving cosmetic injuries, the study only focused on emergency room situations. Therefore, the actual number of related injuries is likely significantly higher because the study did not include instances where injuries were treated at home, in pediatric offices or in urgent care centers.
Ways to Prevent Cosmetic Injuries to Children
The study highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to protect vulnerable children who are unaware of the dangers of these products. Some ways to prevent these injuries include:
- Childproof your home – Make sure that children do not have access to cosmetic items. Move dangerous items out of a child’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. Use cabinet locks and other childproofing devices to prevent children from accessing these items and others that may pose a danger to them.
- Be careful about hair products – Try not to use your own hair products around your children since so many of these injuries involved them.
- Keep products stored in their original container – Keep the items in their original packaging so that if there is an accident, you can bring the packaging to the doctor so that they know exactly what the child was exposed to.
Legal Help with Your Product Liability Claim
Some cosmetic products are marketed directly to children. Others may lack a sufficient warning that puts a parent on notice about the possible dangers a product poses. Other types of products that children use may also contain deficiencies in marketing or consideration of a child’s safety. When a child is injured by a product in this nature, the parent must protect his or her child. The parent may be able to take legal action to pursue compensation against the product manufacturer to pay for medical expenses incurred because of the manufacturer’s carelessness. If your child was injured by a defective product, contact our experienced legal team for help with your claim.
