A case review of patients presenting to Royal North Shore Hospital, with hair removal wax burns between January and November 2006.

Abstract

To date there is no published literature on the dangers of hair removal wax burns. This case review illustrates the steady influx of patients presenting to Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) with hair removal wax burns. Between January and December 2006, 10 patients out of 395 with burns (2.5%) presented to our dressing clinic with hair removal wax burns. All sustained burns under 5% total body surface area (TBSA) and two required debriding and split skin grafting (SSG). The mechanism of the burns was re-heating the hair removal wax in the microwave for too long.