Making your own slime is becoming a popular trend, thanks to millions of YouTube tutorials dedicated to it, and almost 270,000 Instagram posts about it.

However making it at home could pose a threat to your children, due to a chemical called Borax.

Earlier this month the Manchester Evening News reported how a 10-year-old girl suffered "serious chemical burns to her hands after making polymer ‘slime’".

Deejay Jemmett from Prestwich was referred to a plastic surgeon after making slime using an online guide.

The skin on her hands broke out in blisters, then it began to peel off before becoming chemically burnt.

Deejay Jemmett's burnt hands after making slime

But what is Borax and how can children make slime safely?

Here is everything you need to know.

What is slime?

Slime is gooey substance that kids can make at home, using household items. Tutorials on how to make it are available online on sites like YouTube and Instagram.

You can customise the slime using food colouring and glitter, to give it a more appealing look.

It is usually made using PVA glue, water and food colouring. However some tutorials call for the use of Borax.

The trend started off in America, where an 11-year-old girl in Massachusetts suffered second and third-degree burns.

What is Borax?

The European Chemical Agency has classified Borax as a serious health hazard

Borax is a chemical that is usually found in laundry and cleaning items in a powder form.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has classified it as a serious health hazard, saying "this substance may damage fertility or the unborn child and cause serious eye irritation".

Borax is also called sodium borate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborat.

How to make slime safely without Borax

Thankfully you can make slime in a safer way with items found in the home like glue, salt, water and potato starch.

YouTuber Jelly Rainbow makes a safer version here:

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Ingredients:

PVA glue

Food colouring

Glitter

Water

Salt