Hair relaxer ingestion: a new trend

Although the health care system has done much to reduce the incidence of ingestion of such alkalis as drain and oven cleaners, in recent years we have seen an overwhelming increase in the incidence of hair relaxer ingestion. In a 5-year review (1987 to 1992) of 48 cases of caustic ingestion, 15 cases involved alkaline hair-relaxing agents. This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the agents ingested, the presenting signs and symptoms, the diagnostic procedures, and the outcomes in those 15 cases. Oral cavity and lip burns were common in these children, but none of the 15 had significant esophageal burns. Education of the medical and lay community about the risk of hair relaxer ingestion should be undertaken to reverse this worrisome trend.