With the rise in DIY slime recipes for kids, the doctors at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group caution parents against using harsh ingredients and, instead, opting for safer alternatives.
Garden City, NY
– Making homemade “slime” has become an extremely popular pastime for children and adolescents. This play material is pliable and can be made in a variety of ways with different colors and ingredients. According to the doctors at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group (LIPSG), this slime craze can be a harmless and enjoyable activity, but depending on certain factors, the material may have hidden dangers. Recent reports have revealed children suffering from chemical burns due to the ingredients in their homemade slime recipes—with one of the most common active ingredients being the household cleaner known as Borax.
After reading an article about a young girl who developed second- and third-degree burns, and witnessing his niece playing with the popular slime, Dr. Brian A. Pinsky, a plastic surgeon at LIPSG, was inspired to create awareness and promote a safer slime recipe. He emphasizes the need to avoid ingredients that may irritate or burn the skin, such as Borax or detergent. “Although homemade slime can be a fun sensory activity for kids, parents should be mindful of the safety of the ingredients being used,” says Dr. Pinsky. Instead of using Borax, he suggests seeking safer alternatives. The recipe he recommends involves a mixture of shampoo, glue, and baby powder—with other add-ins like food coloring, glitter, and liquid watercolors.
Aside from finding a safer homemade slime recipe, the surgeons at LIPSG offer these safety tips:
- Wash hands after use to remove potential chemical residue.
- Beware of any itching or burning after playing with slime.
- If discomfort occurs, avoid using soap, as this can weaken the skin’s protective layer.
- Contact the child’s physician should there be any signs of a burn.
- Minor burns should be cared for with an ointment such as Vaseline or bacitracin.
Should a child develop alkaline burns from playing with slime, the LIPSG doctors stress the importance of seeking immediate medical attention to prevent further damage. The practice’s on-call service, known as Dr. STITCH, is available 24/7, and if someone calls the service with an urgent need, such as a burn, one of the plastic surgeons will meet the patient at the emergency room or one of the practice’s nearby office locations.
About Long Island Plastic Surgical Group
Long Island Plastic Surgical Group is the oldest and largest private and academic plastic surgery practice in the country. The team is composed of 20 plastic surgeons with over 200 years of combined experience. In addition to Dr. STITCH, the surgeons at LIPSG operate Deep Blue Med Spa, offering clinically proven skin care services. The main office facility for LIPSG is located in Garden City, NY, and the doctors also help patients at additional offices in East Hills, Babylon, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Flushing, and Huntington. The doctors are available for interview upon request.
The practice can be reached online at lipsg.com or drstitch.com.
Contact:
Long Island Plastic Surgical Group
Garden City Office:
999 Franklin Avenue
Second Floor
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 504-3014
East Hills Office:
2200 Northern Blvd.
Suite 201
East Hills, NY, 11548
Tel: (516) 439-5500
Babylon Office:
200 W. Main Street
Building A, Suite 101
Babylon, NY 11702
(631) 376-0656
Manhattan Office:
1111 Park Avenue
Suite 1G
New York, NY 10128
(212) 879-8506
Huntington Office:
206 E. Jericho Turnpike
Huntington Station, NY 11746
(631) 683-5630
Flushing Office:
136-20 38th Avenue
Suite 5E
Flushing, NY 11354
(347) 738-0225
Brooklyn Offices:
121 Dekalb Avenue
Suite 8F
Brooklyn, NY 11205
330 9th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 484-9933