Soaps (excl. Laundry Soaps Or Detergents)
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Workshop Tools & Equipment · CPSC Code 983
Down 20% over 5 years
The verdict
Soaps (excl. Laundry Soaps Or Detergents) carry a danger score of 37/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 21,641 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 20% over the last five years.
- 37/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 21,641
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 1.6%
- end in hospital admission
- 15-24
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 983 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 37/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume21,641 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)1.6%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-20%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Soaps (excl. Laundry Soaps Or Detergents) (CPSC product code 983, in the Home Workshop Tools & Equipment category) generate an estimated 21,641 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 432,816 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 37/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 20% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2018 (30,839 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2007 (13,020 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) is derma/conjunct to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 69,886 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by derma/conjunct to the face (43,383 cases). The 15-24 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 77,973 cases over the NEISS window, and females appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 1.6% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 16 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 34,908 | 41,064 | |
| 5-14 | 28,844 | 37,828 | |
| 15-24 | 28,514 | 49,451 | |
| 25-34 | 22,894 | 41,660 | |
| 35-44 | 15,456 | 27,454 | |
| 45-54 | 17,093 | 23,909 | |
| 55-64 | 11,902 | 17,526 | |
| 65-74 | 7,179 | 10,321 | |
| 75+ | 7,154 | 9,656 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Derma/conjunct | |
| Face | Derma/conjunct | |
| Upper Trunk | Derma/conjunct | |
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Pubic Region | Other | |
| Not Stated/unk | Derma/conjunct | |
| Lower Arm | Derma/conjunct | |
| Pubic Region | Derma/conjunct | |
| Lower Trunk | Derma/conjunct | |
| Eyeball | Derma/conjunct | |
| Hand | Derma/conjunct | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Eyeball | Other | |
| Neck | Derma/conjunct |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
56YOF PRESENTS WITH A RASH ON HER LEGS AND BILATERAL UPPER ARMS AFTER CHANGING HER BODY WASH DX: ACUTE DERMATITIS
27YOF BROUGHT IN BY EMS FROM HOME. PATIENT USED A NEW BODY SOAP, LEFT BATHROOM AND ALREADY EXPERIENCING REACTIONS. TOOK SOME *** AND WENT TO BED. WOKE UP AND WAS WHEEZING AND HIVES. EMS GAVE EPI EN ROUTE. DX: ANGIOEDEMA, ALLERGIC REACTION, HIVES, URTICARIA.
62YOF PRESENTS WITH VAGINAL BURNING AFTER WASHING HERSELF WITH *** SOAP. DX: VAGINAL IRRITATION, ACTUTE CYSTITS WITHOUT HEMATURIA.
37 YOF PRESENTS WITH FACIAL RASH FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER STARTING A NEW SOAP. DX: FACIAL RASH, ALLERGIC REACTION
14 YOM WAS TRANSFERRING SOME SOAP FROM A GLASS SOAP DISPENSER WHEN IT SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HAND AND FELL INTO THE SINK. HE TRIED TO CATCH IT, BUT IT HIT THE GROUND AND BROKE WITH A GLASS SHARD BEING DRIVEN THROUGH HIS FINGER. DX: PUNCTURE WOUND LEFT INDEX FINGER, LACERATION LEFT INDEX FINGER
44 YOM C/O ITCHY BILATERAL LEGS AFTER USING A NEW SOAP, PT HAS BEEN SCRATCING THEM AND DOES HAVE EXCORIATIONS. DX: CONTACT DERMATITIS
31YOM WITH RASH ON FACE AND ARMS S.P USING NEW SOAP DX: ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS DUE TO OTHER AGENTS
8YOF PRESENTS WITH MOTHER WITH RASH ON GENITAL REGION S/P USING NEW SOAP DX: RASH
2YOF MOM WASHED PATIENT WITH A NEW BODY WASH LAST EVENING AND PATIENT DEVELOPED A RASH DX: CONTACT DERMATITIS
11YOM CLEAN HIS FACE WITH DAD'S SOAP AND DEVELOPED A RASH DX CONTACT DERMATITIS
11YOF WITH RASH THAT STARTED AFTER USING NEW SOAP. PT HAS RASH ON ARMS AND NECK AND FACE. DX: ALLERGIC DERMATITIS
49YOM PT C/O RT EYE PAIN WHEN HE GOT SOAP IN EYE, WHILE WEARING CONTACTS DX: CORNEAL ABRASION
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Began use of Method brand foaming hand soap in year 2011, and method brand kitchen spray cleaner and method brand bathroom cleaners in 2012 . Developed excema type skin reaction, during October 2012, was seen by medical primary care nurse practitioner and dermatologist who called it dishydrotic excema of unknown cause given topical steroid cream for dry skin outbreaks in January 2013. Condition worsened while continuing to use method brand products, accute sensitization with cracking, bleeding , burn type circular wheels covering entire palms and fingers. . Positive allergy test using skin patch testing confirmed by allergist to have accute allergy to methylisothiazolinone group of preservative . Called method brand company to report adverse reaction and they claim they have no knowledge of any reports required by their company concerning my medical condition, all products by method in my home contain methylisothiazolinone and or methylchloroisothiazolinone .condition required strong short course of oral prednisolone corticosteroid, and medical gauze wraps over entire hands. Contact allergy is still in accute phase, not resolved.
Within seconds of using Yardley of London's Lemon Verbena Soap with Shea Butter and Essential Oils for the first time, my daughter developed a systemic allergic reaction: swelling of the hands and feet, hives, swelling of the nasal passages, shortness of breath, numbness and tingling of the palms of the hands, and nausea. We began treating immediately with [REDACTED] and continued to do so on her doctor's advice every four hours as the symptoms returned. The ingredients list on the soap box does not specify which essential oils are included in the soap, nor does it specify the chemical makeup of the perfume used in the soap.
I saw some black spots on my husband and granddaughters hand soap, Olay Body Bar and was trying to wash them off. One particular spot wasnt rubbing off, under running water. I used my fingernail to try to scrape it out. Then my nail hit a hard spot. I dug into the soap on that spot and found a sliver of metal!!! It looks like a needle but its thicker and not as long.
I feel that the packaging for Bluey Bubble Bath is unsafe for children. It is shaped like a drink carton that could be confusing to children.
I was giving my 19 month old daughter a shower and gave her some of the Crayola Bath Paints we purchased at Target for my older daughter's birthday. I squirted the product in her hand to allow her to paint on the walls and on her body. The product was on her body for less than 10 minutes before we rinsed her off. We did this 3-4 times over the course of a week. Her body broke out in a rash from head to toe and caused severe itching that caused her to scratch until she bled. Her scalp is now all peeling and dry as well. Her diaper area burns every time she urinates and she cries because of it.
(06/28/2019) The consumer felt a sizable piece of glass in the gel after pouring the product in her hands. The consumer stated that this is not the first time that she has found glass in this product. No injury.
I purchased Dino-Fizz for my grandson's bath time. Upon placing the egg in the water, it began fizzing. My grandson reached out and touched the fizzing egg and started screaming it hurt his fingers. I began rinsing his fingers under the running bath water while my daughter tried retrieving the egg. She also experienced the same issue. She said it felt like it was burning her fingers. Both of their fingers were red and they complained about pain for quite some time after the incident. The only warning on this product is about the small toy contained within the egg. I tried contacting Smith & Vandiver, the manufacturer of the product, through their website, their 800 number and just recently by letter. To date, no one has responded.
Slipped in shower using Olay Advanced Moisture Renewal Body Wash. The 'moisturizer ' in the body wash coats a very slippery residue on shower and bathtub floor.
Showing 8 of 16 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents)?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) have a danger score of 37/100 (low risk). An estimated 21,641 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents)?
The most common injury is derma/conjunct to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 69,886 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) increasing or decreasing?
Down 20% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents) injuries?
The 15-24 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 77,973 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents)?
Of all ER visits involving soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents), approximately 1.6% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (98.3%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with soaps (excl. laundry soaps or detergents)?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Workshop Tools & Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 37/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 15-24 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.