Chemical Burns: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic

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What is a chemical burn?

A chemical burn is damage to tissue on your body due to a harsh or corrosive substance. You can get chemical burns on your skin, eyes or inside of your body. Most chemical burns are the result of accidentally spilling a chemical on yourself. But it’s also possible to swallow chemicals or get exposed to them in other ways.

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Chemical burns range from mild to severe. Mild chemical burns usually heal quickly, but severe chemical burns can cause permanent tissue damage, scarring or death. Chemical burns require immediate medical treatment.

Who’s at risk for chemical burns?

Anyone who works with chemicals is at risk for chemical burns, including:

  • Construction workers.
  • Factory workers.
  • Farmers.
  • Laboratory technicians.
  • Mechanics.
  • Military personnel.
  • Plumbers.

It’s important to note that children (especially toddlers) are at a high risk for burns caused by household chemical products. They may accidentally touch or swallow detergents, bleach or cleaning products.

How common are chemical burns?

Between 2005 and 2014, about 3% of all adults admitted to burn centers in the U.S. had chemical burns. One study shows that, over a 17-year period, about 40,000 children (or 2,300 children per year) were admitted to the emergency department with a chemical burn from a household cleaning product.

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