Lipstick

Definition:

This poisoning is from an overdose of lipstick.

Alternative Names:

Lip gloss; Lip balm

Poisonous Ingredient:

Petrolatum
Lanolin
Eosin
Other pigments

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found:

Various lipsticks

Symptoms:

Respiratory
- Difficulty breathing (from inhalation or allergic reaction)
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Burning pain in the throat
- Blurred vision
- Burns to the eye
Skin
- Rash
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea (watery, bloody)
Heart and blood vessels
- Low blood pressure
Nervous system
- Stupor
- Coma

Home Treatment:

With any toxic ingestion or allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care immediately. Call Poison Control for further information.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

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

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Treat the allergic reaction with diphenhydramine and prednisone.
For swallowed poison:
- Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage).
- Activated charcoal administration.
- Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach.
- Give IV fluids.
- Admission to the hospital.
- Give an antidote.
- Treat the symptoms.
For skin exposure:
- Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days.
- Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin).
- Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care.

Expectations (prognosis):

With any toxic exposure, recovery and prognosis depend on the extent of the exposure and the time to treatment. These products are relatively nontoxic, so recovery will normally occur.

Review Date: 2/9/2002
Reviewed By: Kevin G. Wheeler, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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