Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)

Lye most often means sodium hydroxide, a strong alkali also sold as caustic soda. It is used in drain and oven cleaners, soap making, food processing, and industry. Some chemical hair relaxers, sold as "lye" relaxers, use sodium hydroxide to break down the structure of curly hair so it can be straightened. "No-lye" relaxers use other alkaline chemicals, but they can still irritate and burn.

The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry describes sodium hydroxide as very corrosive, able to cause severe burns in any tissue it contacts, and a particular threat to the eyes. The agency notes it has no odor, so smell gives no warning of dangerous exposure. Swallowing lye can burn the mouth, throat, and stomach, and skin contact can cause deep chemical burns that may not hurt right away.

Lye matters in lawsuits in a few ways. Product injury cases involve chemical burns and eye injuries from cleaners, often focused on packaging, child-resistant closures, and warnings. Hair relaxers are a larger area: thousands of people have sued relaxer makers, and while the main litigation focuses on alleged links between long-term relaxer use and uterine and other cancers, complaints also describe scalp burns, hair loss, and scarring. The FDA regulates relaxers as cosmetics and publishes safety tips for their use.

If you were burned by a relaxer or cleaning product, photograph the injury, keep the container, and get medical care. See our hair relaxer cancer lawsuit page and the related sodium hydroxide and caustic soda entries.