Parents report injuries, sicknesses from DIY slime ingredient

Many families are making homemade slime on a regular basis, and many online videos show how easy it is, but the slime craze is leading to many reports of irritated skin, headaches and congestion.

The do-it-yourself slime is easy to make: many recipes involve water and school glue. The concern, though, comes from a third ingredient in many of the mixes: Borax.

Kathleen Quinn, an 11-year-old slime maker, used to make the concoction every day for months. One day, the slime gave her second- and third-degree burns on her hands.

"They were blistered, and, like, it just felt horrible," Quinn said.

Other parents reported their children experienced rashes.

Borax has been used successfully for decades for cleaning purposes, but it comes with warnings right on the box: If not diluted properly borax can irritate the eyes, nose and skin.

"Just because you have it around, just because it seems to be perfectly safe for those types of applications doesn't mean it should be used in anything else particularly household slime," said Consumer Reports' James Dickerson.

"So, we really don't want young kids, particularly young kids to be exposed to this because it's a potential hazard," Dickerson said.

Another concern for younger children is that they might accidentally eat the slime.

For older children and adults, Consumer Reports says use common sense. Avoid direct contact with your eyes and wash your hands after making and playing with the slime.

If Borax comes into contact with your eyes, be sure to rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes.