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Hair bleach poisoning

Hair lightener poisoning

 

Hair bleach poisoning occurs when someone swallows hair bleach or splashes it on their skin or in their eyes.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

 

The harmful ingredients in hair bleach are:

  • Ammonium persulfate
  • Ethyl alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide

 

Where Found

 

The above ingredients are used in different kinds of hair bleach.

 

Symptoms

 

Symptoms of hair bleach poisoning are:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Burning pain in the throat
  • Burns to the eye
  • Collapse
  • Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
  • Diarrhea (watery, bloody)
  • Low blood pressure
  • Inability to walk normally
  • No urine output
  • Rash
  • Slurred speech
  • Stupor
  • Vomiting

 

Home Care

 

Get medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person swallowed the hair bleach, give them water or milk right away, unless a provider tells you not to. DO NOT give anything to drink if the person has symptoms that make it hard to swallow. These include:

  • Vomiting
  • Convulsions
  • A decreased level of alertness

 

Before Calling Emergency

 

Have this information ready:

  • Person's age, weight, and condition
  • Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known)
  • Time it was swallowed
  • Amount swallowed

 

Poison Control

 

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

 

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

  • Blood and urine tests
  • Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator).
  • Chest x-ray
  • EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing).
  • Endoscopy. Camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Fluids through a vein (by IV)
  • Medicines to treat the effects of the poison
  • Surgery to remove burned skin (if needed)
  • Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage ).
  • Washing of the skin (irrigation). Perhaps every few hours for several days.

If the poisoning is severe, the person may be admitted to the hospital.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

How well someone does depends on how severe the poisoning is and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is possible. The outcome depends on how much of this damage there is. Damage to the esophagus and stomach can continue to occur for several weeks after the product is swallowed. A hole can develop in these organs, and that can lead to bleeding and severe infection.

 

 

Open References

References

Caraccio TR, McFee RB. Cosmetics and toilet articles. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2007:chap 100.

Wax PM, Young A. Caustics. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2014:chap 153.

Zosel AE. General approach to the poisoned patient. In: Adams JG, ed. Emergency Medicine . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 143.

 

        A Closer Look

         

          Self Care

           

            Tests for Hair bleach poisoning

             
               

              Review Date: 10/16/2015

              Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

              The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

               
               
               

               

               

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