14-Year-Old Girl Suffers Third-Degree Burns After Using Nail Polish Remover Near Burning Candle

third degree burns teenagers nail polish fire

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Feb 01, 10:11 am

Photo: (Photo : John Moore/Getty Images)

A teenager in Ohio cautions others after a routine task of removing her nail polish resulted in severe burn injuries, leading to her hospitalization.

Kennedy, a 14-year-old, suffered from third-degree burns when fumes from the nail polish remover she was using near a burning candle ignited a flash fire on January 5. At the time of the incident, Kennedy's parents were at work.

She recalls the terrifying experience, saying that the bottle of nail polish remover she was holding exploded in her hands, engulfing her and her surroundings in flames.

14-Year-Old Suffers Third-Degree Burns From Nail Polish Remover Explosion

Alerted by her yell, Kennedy's siblings rushed to her aid, managed to extinguish the fire on her body, and called 911 for help.

Her mother, Brandi, arrived home concurrently with emergency responders, describing the scene as horrific, with Kennedy covered in bubbles and welts and her skin melted away. Brandi recalls, "It was a wild experience."

Subsequently, Kennedy was transferred to Shriners Children's Hospital in Ohio, where she went through different procedures to clean wounds and remove dead skin.

Dr. Sara Higginson, a burn and trauma surgeon, performed a surgical excision and grafting on January 17 to enable wound healing and reduce the risk of infection by clearing unhealthy tissue.

Kennedy's mother, Brandi, describes the horrifying incident where her daughter bears burns and skin damage while removing the nail polish, evolving into a traumatic scene.

Despite the popularity of beauty routines among teenage girls, this Ohio teen's simple task of removing nail polish led to a severe accident, leaving her with third-degree burns.

Kennedy's Treatment and Recovery

Brandi, her mother describes the aftermath as a distressing sight of bubbles, welts, and melted skin.

Kennedy was rushed to Shriners Children's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, a pediatric facility specializing in burn care. Dr. Sara Higginson treated her with procedures to clean wounds and graft healthy skin.

Despite the challenging journey, Kennedy's remarkable progress surprised doctors, and her goal is to complete the healing process by March or April 2025.

Kennedy continues therapy at Shriners with a focus on minimizing scarring.

The family now aims to raise awareness about fire safety, emphasizing the need for mindfulness and caution in daily activities involving open flames.

Dr. Higginson stresses the importance of safety buffers and praises Kennedy's determination to share her story for the benefit of others facing similar risks. She explained the extent of her injuries, including full-thickness injuries on her abdomen, thighs, and right arm.

Despite the severity, Kennedy has shown remarkable progress, with her hands healing sufficiently for her to manage activities like putting on her cheerleading bow.

The healing process involving skin grafts is expected to take about a year, and Kennedy remains committed to completing it by March or April of the following year. Looking ahead, Kennedy will continue physical and occupational therapy at Shriners, with periodic laser treatments to minimize scarring.

Both Kennedy and her mother aim to raise awareness about fire safety and caution in daily activities, emphasizing the potential risks, even from seemingly routine tasks.

Dr. Higginson also acknowledges the importance of Kennedy's willingness to share her story to underscore safety messages related to flames and flammable substances.