A schoolgirl narrowly missed having a skin graft after a dangerous YouTube craze left her with burns and no feeling in her hand.
Ebony Worthington, 10, had to be taken to a specialist burns unit after taking part in the ‘Aerosol challenge’, which sees youngsters spray deodorant on their skin at close range for as long as they possibly can.
The youngster, of Farnworth, near Bolton, sprayed aerosol on her hand for a few minutes, leaving an angry red burn.
The next day at school the mark on Ebony’s hand had swollen up and looked infected, so her teachers rang her mother to refer her to hospital.
She was rushed to hospital and referred to Manchester Children’s Hospital burns unit where doctors were inclined to perform a skin graft.
Ebony Worthington, 10, had to be taken to a specialist burns unit after taking part in the ‘Aerosol challenge’, which sees youngsters spray deodorant on their skin at close range for as long as they possibly can. She is pictured in hospital
Her mother Kirsty Heathcote, 30, is frantic with worry and unable to see her daughter in hospital as she has a cold and can’t risk exposing her to any germs.
She told the Bolton News: ‘At first they thought she might need a skin graft, which would have been awful — I hated the thought of her being in so much pain because of this silly challenge.
‘Unfortunately, some kids have seen this craze on YouTube and it has just spread from there – they don’t realise the seriousness of what it can do to you, and neither did I.
‘Parents need to be aware of what their children are watching on Youtube. Every child is seeing these kind of videos now, but they don’t understand the dangers.’
Ebony’s classmates have been warned not to make her mistake and try the ‘damaging and painful’ challenge.
Her injuries are due to heal in the next four to six weeks, but her mother is still worried about long-term damage, which could affect her passion for gymnastics.
With Ms Heathcote unable to visit her daughter, her grandmother has stayed by her bedside and will accommodate her when she is discharged.
Earlier this year Cornwall mother Sara Pears Stanley posted pictures of her daughter Kaitlyn’s arms (pictured) covered in red burns after she did it
She said: It has all come from these Youtube videos – I have watched a few and there are some that really go wrong.
‘After she had done it, Ebony came downstairs and put her hand on the freezer and said she had banged it.
‘An hour later, she came back and showed me the mark on her hand – it was white and a perfect circle.
‘The next day, her school phoned me to say that they were very concerned – the mark had started to swell and had gone numb.
‘It looked infected and the hospital told us it was a bad burn, so they contacted the burns unit at Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Teenagers across Britain have been taking to YouTube to film themselves spraying deodorant on their skin at close range for as long as they can for the last few years
‘At first they thought she might need a skin graft, which would have been awful – I hated the thought of her being in so much pain because of this silly challenge.
‘Fortunately, she just needed it bandaged, but she was very close to needing a graft. She was very lucky.’
She continued: ‘It’s a nightmare. I can’t believe that something this simple can cause so much damage.
‘I keep the deodorant in the bathroom and I have never thought that it should be hidden away because it is a danger.
‘Ebony has no feeling in the top of her hand at the moment, so we just have to hope that is not long-term.
‘She does gymnastics and I don’t want this to jeopardise the things that she enjoys.’
‘I have been to the school and they told me that every teacher has spoken to their classes about it. Hopefully none of them will try it again.
‘This has been awful for me, but my mum has been amazing and hasn’t left Ebony’s side.
‘Ebony has been so brave and she has definitely realised how silly she was and the consequences of her actions.
Another concerned parent posts a graphic warning about the ‘Aerosol challenge’
The consequences are extremely painful and can leave lasting damage to the skin (pictured)
‘She is a very bright girl, so we are all surprised that she would do this. It just goes to show how easily influenced any child can be.
‘I worry about what the next challenge will be. The next one could fatally harm someone.’
The ‘Aerosol challenge’ first emerged a few years ago, with children and teenagers across Britain rushing to try the new craze.
But pictures posted by concerned parents on social media have shown the damaging effect it can have on young people’s sensitive skin.
Earlier this year Cornwall mother Sara Pears Stanley posted pictures of her daughter Kaitlyn’s arms covered in red burns after she did it.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘Apparently the new craze up Bodmin college is the ‘deodorant challenge’. I’ve warned Kaitlyn not to do it again…Just want you all to be aware’.
The British Skin Foundation has condemned the trend, branding it ‘painful and damaging’.
A spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The British Skin Foundation would never encourage the use of any aerosol product in close proximity to the skin for a prolonged period.
‘These products should be used appropriately and responsibly as extended use can lead to the freezing action producing a cryogenic burn.
‘Short term this is both painful and damaging but prolonged exposure could lead to permanent damage or disfigurement.’
The videos of young people spraying cans inches away from the skin’s surface for prolonged periods of time (pictured) are posted on YouTube