Plastic surgeons have called for additional safety warnings on deodorant cans after a viral TikTok challenge left young people with cold burns on their skin.
The wounds are caused by very low temperatures – better known as frostbite. A 15-second spray of deodorant held just five centimeters away has been shown to drop skin temperature by more than 60 degrees Celsius – enough to cause extreme burns.
Almost 70 people – some as young as ten – ended up in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle upon Tyne with similar injuries. Some needed plastic surgery to repair their damaged skin.
The rise is attributed to a social media trend in which young people film themselves spraying deodorant on their skin for as long as it is tolerable.
The stunt leaves a red, circular mark on the skin, which kids then share on TikTok.
The wounds are caused by very low temperatures – better known as frostbite. A 15-second spray of deodorant held just five centimeters away has been shown to reduce skin temperature by more than 60 degrees Celsius
READ MORE: THE DANGEROUS TIKTOK CHALLENGES THAT ARE SAVING YOUNG LIVES
A 10-year-old girl from Hertfordshire had to undergo plastic surgery last year after freezing her skin with a can of deodorant after seeing others doing the same online. Surgeons later warned that it could take up to two years for her injuries to fully heal.
RVI doctors claim that self-inflicted cold burns occur on average every two months. About two-thirds were women and more than half were aged between 10 and 30, according to findings to be presented at the annual meeting of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) later this month.
Research leader and consultant plastic surgeon Connor Barker says: “The influence of social media on young people cannot be underestimated.”
Twenty years ago, he adds, cold burns were virtually unheard of.
Mr Barker says deodorant cans must now carry a warning explaining that spraying close to the skin can cause life-changing injuries.
“They warn about flammability and solvent inhalation, but don’t acknowledge these specific dangers,” he adds.
The researchers also asked that patients with cold burns who come to the emergency room be asked about the causes of the wounds to identify who may need psychological support.
Consultant plastic surgeon and BAPRAS president Mani Ragbir says: “This is an alarming, preventable problem affecting children. “It requires immediate attention.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.