Magic Eraser Burns: Debunking the 2006 Myth

A viral email that contained pictures of children with burned skin was circulated in 2006 that claimed the burns were made with a Magic Eraser. This is untrue. While there were injuries associated with Magic Erasers, they were not actually chemical burns.

History

• The emails were originally sent by a mother who said her son used a Magic eraser on his face, resulting in red burns to his skin. The email contained a picture of his reddened cheeks and chin.

Rumors

• The result of the mass circulation of the email was a heightened fear of Magic Erasers and the belief by some people that they are made with formaldehyde. This caused the company to issue a statement saying that the product does not contain the chemical.

Skin Abrasions

• The real cause of the redness was determined by the company not to be chemical burns because the product is non-toxic. According to Snopes, many people believe that the redness was caused by skin abrasions.

Warning

• The result of the worry about Magic Erasers and the redness that was caused to the child in the photograph is a new warning on the labels of Magic Erasers. They are not to be used on the skin.

Considerations

• The company also recommends that children not use Magic Erasers because they can cause intestinal blockage if they are swallowed.