Your skin needs a regular exfoliation routine to keep it healthy and maintain its glow.
However, you can use some materials to give a good clean, like the multi-functional cleaner, ‘Magic eraser.’ It’s also important to know if using a magic eraser on the skin is safe.
A magic eraser is an abrasive material for cleaning surfaces and hard stains but not on the skin. It can cause skin burns and other irritations when you use it on your skin. However, a magic eraser not being safe on the skin doesn’t make it toxic to humans. It’s a suitable cleaning agent.
Can You Use a Magic Eraser to Exfoliate Skin?
Yes, you can, but it’s safe not to use the magic eraser on your skin because it’s risky. Besides, the skin is a sensitive part of the body and can get irritations faster.
In addition, a magic eraser has traces of formaldehyde, which some skin could quickly react to when you exfoliate your skin with it.
Use a magic eraser on your skin without causing any damage by using it gently or correctly.
It would be best if you were gentle while using a magic eraser on your skin. And don’t use it too often because it can cause more damage to your skin.
Before knowing more about magic erasers, you may also ask, what is it made of?. A magic eraser has a material known as melamine (that’s the magic in it).
The melamine foam can get into small spaces, and its abrasive nature makes any cleaning possible.
Again, any magic eraser clean entails removing the top layer of a surface. So relating the eraser’s abrasive nature to exfoliating your skin also means removing a skin layer, which is terrible.
Therefore, the magic eraser is unsafe to use, whether skin or as a cleaning agent( it should be your last resort for difficult cleaning).
A magic eraser is known for efficiently removing the surface of anything it’s cleaning, but not good on every surface.
So, apart from the skin, it’s essential to know where and where not to use a magic eraser.
Here is a table that identifies some essential surfaces where and where not to use a magic eraser:
| Magic Eraser Friendly Surfaces | Where Not to Use a Magic Eraser |
|---|---|
| Oven doors with food spills. | Directly on the skin. |
| On fridges or microwave interiors with spills and splatters. | Stainless steel materials like pans. |
| Surfaces with rust residues. | Nonstick materials pans and pots. |
| Shower doors with stains like soap stains. | Screens. |
| Walls with stains. | On wood surfaces |
| Dirty white sneakers. | On cars and other delicate surfaces |
Most surfaces where you shouldn’t use the magic eraser are those likely to lose their appearances, like their colors or coatings.
However, you can use it on the most surface without necessarily peeling off anything by gently scrubbing the surface.
Always do a spot test to ensure it’s safe to use a magic eraser on any surface. You can try a magic eraser spot test by testing the eraser on the spot to see if it’s harsh on the surface or not.
I Used Magic Eraser on My Face
Magic eraser on your face can cause damage to your skin. The face is more reactive than any other part of the body. It quickly gets irritations.
Although you can see the eraser as a regular sponge, those melamine forms are not skin-friendly. You are prone to skin burns with pain if you use the eraser so hard on your face by scrubbing.
And will also start getting some stingy pain that may leave you restless. Most importantly, you should avoid exposing your face to the sun for a few days so it can heal.
Using a magic eraser on your face is like sanding it because it’s abrasive, so avoid using it on your face.
Besides, other materials you can use on your face and skin will give you a perfect erasing as a magic eraser.
However, you don’t need to panic because you can quickly treat the burns on your face.
Nevertheless, it would help if you practiced some safety precautions when you whined up using a magic eraser on your face.
Below are some of these precautions:
- Rinse your face with cool water for some minutes to remove any trace of the magic eraser.
- Then apply a coat of healing lotion, e.g., vaseline, to prevent further irritation from the air.
- If irritation persists, contact your doctor.
Magic Eraser on Skin Burn
When you use a magic eraser on your skin, it can cause skin burn. However, the burns are not chemical burns, as a magic eraser does not have chemicals that can cause such.
But the structure of the magic eraser brush is abrasive, which can cause friction burns on your skin.
One’s skin varies, and the conditions too. For example, you may have highly reactive skin or damaged skin.
With your skin’s condition, you can get skin burns and even itching on your skin from the magic eraser.
So, in essence, the skin burn on your skin is not necessarily from a magic eraser but your skin’s allergic reaction to it.
Also, these skin burns are not that harsh because they are frictional burns with no long-term danger.
On the other hand, chemical skin burns are more dangerous; they can damage your skin forever if severe.
Frictional burns can quickly heal, below are things you can do to aid the healing of your skin.
- Firstly, dispose of the cause of the skin burn.
- Use cold water to rinse the affected areas for ten or more minutes.
- If the burn is not significant, use a bandage.
If the problem persists, you should see a dermatologist for a more effective treatment.
However, the healing of the burn should take a few days, which means if it’s taking longer, then a doctor is the following remedy.
Note: you should never use things meant for cleaning the house on your skin.
Can You Use Magic Eraser with Bare Hands?
No, using a magic eraser with bare hands is not advisable. However one can use it without any damage to your hands, but using it for longer hours is harmful.
You can only use a magic eraser with bare hands for a quick stain remover.
But when scrubbing and cleaning, you are gradually endangering your hands. With the abrasive nature of the magic eraser, it can burn your skin.
So ensure to wear a pair of gloves when you are using a magic eraser.
Are Magic Erasers Toxic to Humans?
According to P&G (Procter and Gamble) and the national institutes of health(NIH), the magic eraser is non-toxic.
Magic erasers have no substances that are harmful to health. However, it’s advisable to always use other cleaners for regular cleaning and use a magic eraser for hard stains.
People may relate its ‘magic’ abilities to be from a chemical that is most likely toxic, but it’s not.
However, magic erasers have an excellent record for being rated as a great and safe cleaner worldwide.
Also, at a certain period, critics claim the clean magic eraser contains a chemical known as ‘formaldehyde’ which is toxic to humans.
But the magic eraser is made of ‘melamine’ (a foam-like material), which contains a different substance known as formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer.
Since the substance is not fully formaldehyde, its toxicity will not be as harmful as formaldehyde.
In addition, the quantity of formaldehyde in a magic eraser is way lower than the standards government agencies set; it’s almost invisible.
Nevertheless, magic erasers can be toxic to humans only when you use them on your skin or take it into your body.
Else Mr. Clean’s magic eraser won’t affect you by using it; just like most cleaners, it’s not entirely eco-friendly.
However, when using cleaners like the magic eraser, you should be cautious and use them correctly.
Conclusion
Mr. Clean Magic eraser is one of the best cleaners and contains no chemicals or toxins harmful to humans when used.
Also, adding water to a magic eraser is essential before use. The eraser requires water to activate the melamine foam and to give a perfect magic eraser clean.
