Facial and scalp burns from hair activator products

Review of 1,008 admissions over the past two years to the Detroit Medical Center Burn Unit revealed 227 patients with facial or scalp burns. Of these, 12 patients sustained burns directly as a result of accidentally igniting a hair activator product called "Jheri-Curl." Eleven patients sustained superficial partial-thickness burns and were adequately treated with Dermaide. One had deeper burns requiring split-thickness skin grafting.