You probably reach for mascara, eyeliner or an eyelash curler without a second thought. For millions of Americans, that quick swipe is just part of the morning. Few of us ever picture it ending in a trip to the emergency room.
That is where thousands do end up each year. Cosmetic and personal care products sent about 42,500 Americans to emergency rooms with eye injuries over the past two decades, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The analysis was presented at the group's annual meeting in New Orleans. It works out to roughly 2,100 ER visits a year, or nearly six every single day.
Women and girls accounted for about 82 percent of the cases. The average patient was 24 years old. But children aged 4 and under alone made up nearly a quarter of all visits.
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Where the eye injuries come from
Burns dominated the picture. Thermal injuries from heated styling tools accounted for about 26 percent of cases. Chemical exposures made up another 25 percent. About 63 percent of injuries happened at home.
The chemical burns pointed to specific items on the counter. Skin care products and fragrances were tied to 40 percent of them. Nail cosmetics and sprays or shampoo each accounted for roughly 22 percent.
Why children carry so much of the chemical burn risk
The injuries looked very different depending on age. Among patients under 18, chemical burns made up about 46 percent of cases. Among adults, they made up less than 1 percent.
Lead author Aatif Syed, a medical student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said the gap tracks what children can reach when nobody is watching.
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"Cosmetic products may seem relatively low risk because they are everyday household items," he said. "But when they contact the eye, particularly chemicals or very hot devices, they can cause significant injury."
Seventy percent of injuries in children aged 4 and under happened when they got hold of cosmetics without adult supervision. In chemical burn cases overall, more than 83 percent involved unsupervised child access.
Adults rarely got chemical burns in this way. Most came in with cuts, bruises or thermal burns during ordinary grooming. About 90 percent were applying the products themselves rather than visiting a professional.
How to lower the risk at home
Simple steps can shrink the chances of an injury. The AAO recommends storing cosmetics out of the reach of children and limiting unsupervised access to liquid and spray products.
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Eye makeup itself needs attention. The AAO's eye-safety guidance advises replacing eye products every three months and never sharing them, even within a family.
Heated styling tools deserve particular caution. According to the academy, eyelash curlers and similar heated tools can reach 100 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Human skin begins to burn at 118 degrees.
If an eye product does cause pain, redness or vision changes, the academy advises seeing an ophthalmologist as soon as possible rather than waiting it out.
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This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.