Serious problems from makeup and other cosmetics are rare. But sometimes problems can happen.

Do you know what the most common injury from cosmetics is?

The most common injury from cosmetics is from scratching the eye with a mascara wand. Eye infections can result if the scratches go untreated. These infections can lead to ulcers on the cornea (clear covering of the eye), loss of lashes, or even blindness. To play it safe, never try to apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train, or plane.

Sharing makeup can also lead to serious problems. Cosmetic brushes and sponges pick up bacteria from the skin. And if you moisten brushes with saliva, the problem can be worse. Washing your hands before using makeup will help prevent this problem.

Sleeping while wearing eye makeup can cause problems too. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you might wake up with itching, bloodshot eyes, infections, or eye scratches. So be sure to remove all makeup before going to bed.

Cosmetic products that come in aerosol containers also can be a hazard. For example, it is dangerous to use aerosol hairspray near heat, fire, or while smoking. Until hairspray is fully dry, it can catch on fire and cause serious burns. Fires related to hairsprays have caused injuries and death. Aerosol sprays or powders also can cause lung damage if they are deeply inhaled into the lungs.

Serious problems from cosmetic use are rare, but sometimes problems arise with specific products. For example, the FDA has warned consumers about the danger of using aerosol hairspray near heat, fire, or while smoking. Until hairspray is fully dry, it can ignite and cause serious burns. Injuries and deaths have occurred from fires related to aerosol hairsprays! Another problem can occur with aerosol sprays or powders; If they are inhaled, they can cause lung damage.


Scratching the eye with a mascara wand! Eye infections can result if the eye scratches go untreated. Such infections can lead to ulcers on the cornea, loss of lashes, or even blindness.

To play it safe, heed the following tips when applying makeup:

• Never try to apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train or plane.

• Sharing makeup can also lead to serious problems. Cosmetics become contaminated with bacteria the brush or applicator sponge picks up from the skin--and if you moisten brushes with saliva, the problem is much more severe.

• Washing your hands before using makeup will help prevent exposing the makeup to bacteria.

• Sleeping while wearing eye makeup can cause problems, too. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you might awaken with itching, bloodshot eyes, and possibly infections or eye scratches. To avoid eye infections or injury, remove all makeup before going to bed.

• Keep makeup containers closed tight when not in use.

• Keep makeup out of the sunlight to avoid destroying the preservatives.

• Don't use eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), and throw away any makeup you were using when you first discovered the infection.

• Never add any liquid to a product unless the instructions tell you to.

• Throw away any makeup if the color changes or an odor develops.

Preservatives can degrade over time and may not be able to fight bacteria!