MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Hand lotion poisoning

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Hand lotion poisoning

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Care Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Alternative Names

Hand cream poisoning

Definition Return to top

This poisoning is from swallowing hand lotion or hand cream.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Dimethicone
Various alcohols
Paraffins (waxes)
Petrolatum
Mineral oil

Where Found Return to top

Various hand lotions and creams

Symptoms Return to top

Possible intestinal obstruction, resulting in abdominal pain
Diarrhea

Home Care Return to top

There is no home treatment. Call the Poison Control center for further information.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control Return to top

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Return to top

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The patient may receive:

Fluids
Medicines to treat symptoms
Activated charcoal
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, epinephrine, or prednisone)
Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Since these products are considered relatively nontoxic, recovery is very likely.

Update Date: 3/8/2006

Updated by: Stephen C Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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