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155 burns caused by hair straighteners in children: a single centre's experience over 5 years
Julia H Sarginson1, Catalina Estela1, Shirin Pomeroy1
1South West Regional Paediatric Burns Service, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1LE, UK.
Insights
Infants are most at risk of severe burns from popular hair straighteners. This study highlights the rising incidence of these preventable injuries in young children and recommends safety measures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric burn injuries
- Household appliance safety
- Dermatology and injury prevention
Background:
- Hair straightening devices are increasingly common household appliances.
- A rising incidence of burns from these devices is observed, particularly affecting infants.
- Existing literature lacks extensive case series on pediatric burns caused by hair straighteners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the largest case series of pediatric burns caused by hair straightening devices.
- To analyze the demographics, injury mechanisms, and treatment outcomes.
- To raise awareness and advocate for preventative measures against these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data collection from 2007 to 2011.
- Inclusion of all pediatric burn cases presenting to the unit caused by hair straightening devices.
- Recording of patient demographics, injury details (time, mechanism, size, depth), and treatments.
Main Results:
- 155 cases were identified over a five-year period, with a mean patient age of 19 months.
- The primary injury mechanisms were 'touch/grab' (49%) and 'stepped-into' (14%).
- Hands were the most frequently burned area (60%), with 8 cases requiring surgical intervention (excision and grafting).
Conclusions:
- Hair straighteners reach high temperatures (>220°C), capable of causing severe full-thickness injuries.
- Infants and toddlers are identified as the highest-risk group for these burns.
- Preventative strategies, such as heat-resistant pouches and closure clips, are recommended to minimize injury risk.
Unlabelled:
Hair straighteners have become a popular and common household appliance. The incidence of burns from these devices is rising, and is of particular concern given that the main casualties are infants. We present the largest case series in the literature of paediatric burns from hair straightening devices.
Methods:
Retrospective data collection of all burns by hair straightening devices presenting to our unit between 2007 and 2011. Details on demographics, time and mechanism of injury, size and depth of injury and treatment received were recorded.
Results:
There were 155 cases in the five-year period. The mean age was 19 months. The majority of the burns were caused by a 'touch/grab' (49%) or 'stepped-into' (14%) mechanism. The area most frequently burnt was the hand with 60% of the injuries. 8 out of the 155 required excision and grafting.
Conclusion:
Hair straightening devices can reach temperatures of over 220°C and can cause significant full thickness injuries. Our study shows that infants and toddlers are at most risk. These are preventable burns that warrant our attention, and we would advocate the use of heat-resistant pouches and closure clips on the devices to help minimise the risk of injury.
