Thermal injuries caused by hair straightening devices in children: a significant, but preventable problem

Abstract

The incidence of contact burns from heated hair straighteners is increasing. The aim of this paper is to assess the safety features of hair straighteners, the mechanism of contact burns and the resultant morbidity in children. This study involves retrospective analyses of patients' case notes and examination of hair straighteners during heating and cooling. Grabbing and stepping onto heated devices were the common mechanisms of injury involving mainly hands and feet. Healing time ranged from 2 to 79 days. Nineteen percent required extensive therapy to maintain good function. Most devices had locking mechanisms to keep the internal surfaces closed; however the external surfaces reached 72.8°C and took 8.6 min to cool below 50°C. Contact with heated hair straighteners causes significant morbidity. The devices, including the external surfaces remain dangerously hot for a prolonged period after being switched off. These findings call for appropriate safety measures to be redressed by manufacturers and awareness amongst users to avoid these preventable injuries.

Keywords:

• hair straightener
• burn
• children
• injury
• prevention