Shampoo Bar....burned!

[ikindred]

Okay, I broke down and purchased a shampoo bar from a vendor at a local craft fair two weeks ago because I was dying to see what it was all about...I have heard so many great things so I wanted to try one. While washing my hair in the shower, I accidentially got some of the soap in my eye....WOW!!! That soap burned like nothing I have ever felts before.....after repeated washing of my eye, it would not stop burning. My eye was blood shot red and I could barely open it without using my hands. After about 15 minutes, I was able to open my eye.

It was still burning, so I had my husband take me up to the local emergency clinic to have my eye checked out. I was able to bring the ingredient listing from the shampoo bar package with me so I could show them what I was using. After two hours in the clinic and about 4 eye washings with saline solution, they sent me home with a patch on my eye and I was told that I had a chemical burn in my eye!!!!

They think it was the essential oils or the lye..not sure. Needless to say, I am still having a little discomfort and feel miserable. Don't think I will be using that shampoo bar ever again. Has anyone else ever had this happen or heard of this?

 

[Soapy Gurl]

OMG, that is terrible! Whatever they did to that bar something was wrong. Either the lye % was off or the EO were too high. I am so sorry you had to go through that. It sounds very painful. I would complain to the maker. They might not know something is off and be appreciative for you telling them.

 

[Elly]

That is completely wrong, shampoo bars or any other product sold to be used on our bodies should not cause tissue damage, you need to contact them. That is not just an allergic reaction because you were sensitive to an ingredient, a chemical burn could mean bad formulation or an ingredient that should not be in the product. Soap usually stings when it gets into the eyes but does not cause burns unless there is excess lye or the soap has not been allowed to cure properly, I doubt that it'd be the EO's. Hope your eye feels better soon

 

[Fragola]

Sorry for your mishap.

Don't throw it away, you should send it somewhere for analysis. This way you and other people will know what to avoid. I am thinking that many other people may buy a similarly damaging product in the future.

I would be curious myself about the ingredients, especially the EOs, since those could be the culprits.

But first, touch it a little with your tongue, to see if it feels zappy or tingly from EOs. Or let your husband do it, you already got a burned eye.

 

[dagmar88]

But first, touch it a little with your tongue, to see if it feels zappy or tingly from EOs.

Yup, I'd go for a 'zap test'.
The maker should know and try to get every piece of that batch back.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone would sue them.

There's no definite damage to your eye?
I'm sorry you had to go through all that!

 

[Soapsugoii]

Holy crap. I hope your eye is ok! :shock:

Definitely contact the seller. They should not be selling a product that could potentially blind you! Hope you come out of this 100%

 

[Bubbles Galore]

That's really bad. Please contact the seller.

 

[carebear]

whoa! sure, do a zap test but keep in min that CP soap has a very high pH whereas commercial detergent-based shampoos are very close to neutral.

yes, CP soap hurts like hell if it gets in your eyes - doesn't mean it's lye heavy.

 

[dagmar88]

whoa! sure, do a zap test but keep in min that CP soap has a very high pH whereas commercial detergent-based shampoos are very close to neutral.

yes, CP soap hurts like hell if it gets in your eyes - doesn't mean it's lye heavy.

I've tried it on purpose, and though it stings like hell, I can't imagine it would result into a chemical burn...

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Yes, me too. Probably stung more than commercial soap but a rinse out of eye fixed it fairly quickly. :wink:

 

[simplymcghie]

Oh I hope you are doing ok now.

A little vent here but that really annoys me. I am very cautious and work hard to ensure that my soap is safe, cured and won't cause bodily harm. Then someone comes along who perhaps is a good soap making but was not cautious enough and ends up hurting someone in the process.

Sorry. . . little vent over :?

 

[carebear]

Good point on the severity of it. Wonder if it's lye heavy, or if perhaps the fragrance was not skin safe - some people still haven't figured out that candle FOs are not necessarily good for personal care. Or if EOs used were irritating ones. Or if the scent is at too high a level altogether. Hmmm.

 

[Bubbly Buddha]

I hope you are okay!! I too am curious about the cause of the burn. Was it the ingredients? The process? Lye-heavy? EO's?

 

[Jezzy]

Yikes!!! I would do a zap test too... I hope you are feeling better soon

 

[Soaplady22]

OMG - that is not just eo heavy - that's formulated wrong.

Sue the buzzards _ _ _ _ _

(sorry, my son is an attorny) but it's a thought =-

 

[ikindred]

To be honest, I never knew CP soap could burn so bad! I contacted the vendor and she of course denied that her shampoo bar could have ever caused this type of damage but when I offered to fax her the medical reports from the clinic, she offered to give me my money back. I informed her that I was also a soap maker and that I was excited about trying the shampoo bars because I had heard mixed reviews on them......she then went further to accuse me of spying on my competition and hoping to find something bad to discredit her business!

Under no circumstances was that my intentions!!! (how dare her accuse me of such ridiculous behavior). I didn't even ask her for my damn $7.50 back that I spent, I just wanted to inform her of my situation and ask that she double check her recipe because I would hate this mishap to happen to another person who might be willing to proceed with some sort of legal action. I am so done with this whole situation and for the record, I am not going to use or make shampoo bars....don't want to take the risk How dare her accuse me of such behavior when I am the one with a patch on my eye for the next 7 days looking like a pirate! URRGHH! I am really angry about this situation now.

 

[dagmar88]

I'd sue.
This is just incredibly ignorant and irresponsible.
Mistakes can happen, but her attitude can't be justified...

 

[carebear]

I'd not sue.

I informed her that I was also a soap maker and that I was excited about trying the shampoo bars because I had heard mixed reviews on them......she then went further to accuse me of spying on my competition and hoping to find something bad to discredit her business!

Under no circumstances was that my intentions!!! (how dare her accuse me of such ridiculous behavior).

I'd guess a judge & jury would actually believe her.

 

[dagmar88]

I'd not sue.

I informed her that I was also a soap maker and that I was excited about trying the shampoo bars because I had heard mixed reviews on them......she then went further to accuse me of spying on my competition and hoping to find something bad to discredit her business!

Under no circumstances was that my intentions!!! (how dare her accuse me of such ridiculous behavior).

I'd guess a judge & jury would actually believe her.

Even when you have the product in your possession?
What about the FDA?

 

[khermsen]

This is very disturbing, I can't believe the vendor got so defensive. That in itself makes me wonder if the vendor has all her ducks in a row, i.e safety first and product insurance.

Wishing you a complete recovery