Alkali burns are caused by alkaline chemicals found in products such as plaster and mortar, wet cement, oven and drain cleaners, dishwasher powders, fertilizers, and sparks from "sparklers." They can cause serious damage in a very short time. How much damage they cause depends on the type and strength of the chemicals and how long they are in contact with your skin. Alkaline chemicals are able to penetrate and damage the deeper layers of tissue.
An alkali burn is a type of chemical burn.
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