Is Shaving Cream Edible – Can You Eat Shaving Cream?
DISCLAIMER: This article is for information purposes only. Do not use it to treat or manage poison exposure. If you or someone has an exposure, call your local emergency number or your local poison center.
Shaving cream is a fluffy white substance that is typically applied to the body or face before shaving. Some people, especially children, are often attracted to shaving cream and can ingest it. So, should you worry if your loved one ingests it? Is shaving cream editable? Can you eat it or is it toxic?
Most shaving cream brands, especially canned ones are highly toxic and so not edible and should never be ingested. There are other brands that are mildly toxic, but not serious if ingested in small amounts. There are also edible shaving cream brands that can be injected without issue.
Let’s talk a little about shaving cream ingredients and why you may not want to ingest it.
Ingredients
To understand whether you should worry or not, let’s see what makes up typical shaving cream. The substance has two main ingredients. These are:
- Anionic surfactants
- Nonionic surfactants
- Soaps
- Propellants
These types of soap are mildly toxic. In other words, if you or your loved one ingests it in small amounts, you have nothing to worry about.
However. injecting large amounts can be quite toxic.
However, other shaving creams can contain additional toxins, such as:
- Sulfates
- Emulsifiers
- Mineral oil
- Phthalates
- Fragrance/perfume
- Glycols
- Formaldehyde
- Isopentane
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Benzene
- Dimethiconol and dimethicone
- Siloxanes
- Parabens
- Pentasodium pentetate
- Titanium Dioxide
- Polytetrafluoroethylene
- Preservatives
These ingredients can be extremely toxic and should never be injected in large amounts.
For example, a typical shaving cream combination may be something like this – 8.2 percent stearic acid, 3.7 percent triethanolamine, 5 percent lanolin, 2 percent glycerin, 6 percent polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and the rest is water. There are however some shaving creams which contain fewer toxins and contain more natural ingredient like aloe vera.
Typical Symptoms of Shaving Cream Poisoning
As we have seen, some brands of shaving cream can be rather toxic while other brands are not very poisonous. So, in some cases, you may not notice any symptoms.
Allergic reactions are the leading shaving cream symptoms. One may also experience some adverse effects when this chemical enters their eyes.
Here are the common symptoms of shaving lotion poisoning:
- Breathing difficulty
- Rash
- Stomach pain
- Blurred vision
- Pain in the throat
- Burns in the eyes
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Stomach ache
What to Do In Case of Shaving Cream Poisoning?
When you suspect shaving scream poisoning, don’t ignore the slightest symptom.
What Not to Do
Let’s start with what you should NEVER do. It would help if you avoided the following:
Do Not FORCE the person to vomit. Many people think forcing someone to vomit is the easiest way of doing away with the poisonous substance. However, it can cause serious side health effects. It would be best if you left the decision to make the patient vomit to a qualified healthcare professional.
Do not give the person any drink if he or she has symptoms that make it hard to swallow: Some of these symptoms are convulsions, vomiting, and decreased alertness levels.
What to Do
1. If the person swallowed the chemical, give milk or water (if it is safe to do so).
2. Determine the following:
- Time the patient swallowed the substance
- Patient’s condition, age, and weight
- Amount swallowed
- Name of the substance
3. Call emergency or take the patient to the nearest hospital
What to Expect from the Health Care Provider
The healthcare providers will seek to provide the best solution. Once the person is in the emergency room, they will start by monitoring the most important signs such as pulse, breathing rate, and body temperature.
The experts will use the assessment outcome to determine the most appropriate way of treating the symptoms.
Depending on your health condition, you can expect to receive:
- Chest x-ray
- Laxative
- Breathing support
- Water through veins
- Treating the symptoms
- Tube through the mouth to clear the stomach
What to Do If You Want to Eat Shaving Cream
If you’re still tempted to eat or taste shaving cream, you have a solution. It’s OK to satisfy your childhood curiosity.
Some shaving creams are edible and non-toxic. These are typically made at home from the following ingredients:
- Egg white
- Mint leaves
- Rolled oats
- Whipping cream
My Baby Ate Shaving Cream
Babies are generally attracted to shaving cream, and they have more risk of accidental exposure during play. If your baby eats shaving cream, take away the can, use a soft wet cloth to wipe the baby’s mouth, and give the baby some water to drink. Once your baby is out of the situation, call the nearest poison center for help.
Can Shaving Cream Kill You?
Like we already stated above, shaving cream is generally made from soap, surfactant, and propellant. These substances are mildly toxic. They are, therefore, not very serious if ingested in small quantities and will consequently not kill you.
Wrap Up
Shaving creams designed for the body and face typically contain poisonous substances, so you should avoid ingesting them. In case a loved one ingests them, you should contact an emergency line immediately. However, you can make a safe shaving cream if you want to satisfy your childhood curiosity.
