Magic Eraser on Skin? Here’s What You Should Do
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Sometimes, a well-meaning parent may use the Magic Eraser to clean a stain from their child’s skin. Other times, a misinformed person uses the Magic Eraser in an attempt to exfoliate their skin.
However, the Magic Eraser should never be used on a child or adult’s skin because it is abrasive and can result in rashes or burns, even with gentle rubbing. So, how do you treat Magic Eraser “burns”?
Run cold water over the affected area for 10 minutes, then pat it dry with a clean towel. Apply antibiotic ointment, then wrap the wounded area with a loose bandage or gauze. Apply new ointment and replace the bandage every day. The burn should heal on its own within a few days.
However, severe burns caused by Magic Eraser that have developed blistering should be seen by a medical professional. In this article, you will learn what you need to do if you have applied a Magic Eraser on skin.
What happens if you use a Magic Eraser on your skin?
Friction burn caused by Magic Eraser.
A Magic Eraser is made of melamine foam, which acts like fine sandpaper on a microscopic level. Using a Magic Eraser on your skin would essentially give you friction burn, even with gentle rubbing.
The hallmark of a friction burn is damage to the skin over a wide area. The affected area will be red, raw, and could be bleeding or weeping fluid. Besides the obvious injury, the biggest symptom of a friction burn is pain.
How to treat a skin burn from Magic Eraser
If you use a Magic Eraser on your skin and you experience a rash or a burn, chances are you have just taken the surface of the skin called the epidermis, which is the layer that is always damaged or missing in a burn injury. How much skin depends on how vigorously you’ve rubbed the Magic Eraser.
1. Identify the severity of the burn
If you or a loved one suffers from a friction burn caused by Magic Eraser, the first thing you need to do is to calm down and identify the severity of the burn. How deep does the damage go?
If the burn only damages the top layer of the skin, it is likely a minor burn that you can treat at home. However, if the damage goes deeper than the outer layer of the skin, you may need professional care.
Look for blisters. They indicate a more serious burn. A telltale sign of a high degree burn is any type of charring or whitish marks. If you notice them, please seek medical attention immediately.
2. Run cold water over the affected area
If the friction burn caused by the Magic Eraser is minor, start by running cold water over the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes or until the heat of the friction burn has dissipated.
Not only will the running water help cool your burn, but it will also remove any irritants that could prevent your burn from healing properly. Under no circumstances should you apply ice to any burn.
You can also use mild soap to clean the affected area, which would help decrease the risk of infection. Once clean, pat the affected area dry with a clean, dry towel. Don’t rub, pat gently.
3. Apply antibiotic ointment
Once the affected area is completely dry, you can apply an antibiotic ointment. This will help in reducing inflammation and killing bacteria. Applying an antibiotic ointment will also provide a nourishing environment for the skin during healing to minimize the appearance of scars.
Preferably, you should apply an antibiotic ointment that contains a combination of Bacitracin Zinc, Neomycin Sulfate, and Polymyxin B Sulfate antibiotics to help prevent wound infection of cuts, scrapes, and burns.
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4. Wrap the wounded area with a loose bandage
Once you have applied some antibiotic ointment, you can wrap the wounded area with a loose bandage or gauze, leaving enough room for it to breathe. Covering the wound after applying an antibiotic ointment would help it heal faster and prevent scabs, which may cause scarring.
- Product Type:Wound Dressing
- Item Package Dimension:9.093 cm L X13.208 cm W X13.690 cm H
- Ideal For Securing Gauze Pads Or Non-Stick Pads Onto Hard-To-Bandage Areas.
If you clean the wound, apply new ointment, and wrap it in fresh bandages every day, the burn should heal on its own within a few days. Avoid applying lotions or anything else that may irritate the area until it is healed.
Can you use a Magic Eraser to exfoliate skin?
Never use the Magic Eraser to exfoliate your skin! A Magic Eraser is not for human use. It is made of melamine foam that acts like fine sandpaper on a microscopic level. In fact, it is so abrasive that vigorously rubbing a Magic Eraser on the skin could certainly cause irritation or friction burn.
Remember, a Magic Eraser is a household cleaning item. It is not designed to be used on human skin. If you want to exfoliate your skin, please use products that are safe for human use.
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If you want to learn more about what you can and cannot use the Magic Eraser on, please read this article. It is basically the complete database on the things that are safe to use the Magic Eraser on, and which are not.
How toxic is Magic Eraser?
The National Institutes of Health lists the Magic Eraser as non-toxic. There's no evidence that Magic Erasers pose a health risk to people who use them the right way. Still, this does not give you the green light to rub a Magic Eraser on your skin or the skin of others. It can cause rashes or burns.
Should you wear gloves when using Magic Eraser?
You can use a Magic Eraser without wearing gloves, although it is better to protect your hands and fingers. The abrasive material can aggravate your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin to begin with.
The slightest friction from a Magic Eraser can remove the outer layer of your skin. Wearing a pair of rubber gloves will prevent the rashes and burns, keeping your hands and fingers safe!
Conclusion
And there you have it, the complete guide on what to do when you get a friction burn from applying Magic Eraser on your skin. You should be able to treat it at home if you experience a minor friction burn.
However, if you are worried the burn needs professional treatment, ask your doctor for medical advice or go straight to an urgent care center near you. This will help you avoid complications and infections.
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