My nine-year-old son Peyton experienced something I never imagined could happen, and I want to share our story so other parents can be aware and hopefully avoid the same painful situation. On June 24th, Peyton’s shoes got wet while he was playing with water at school. He was wearing socks, and like most kids his age, he didn’t think anything of it.
That night, when he came home, he told me his feet were hurting. When I looked at them, they were red, but I figured they were just cold or irritated from being wet all day, so I didn’t worry too much. But the next day, after spending some time outside, he came to me again saying his feet felt like they were burning. This time when I looked, it was much worse—his feet were redder, starting to blister, and he was clearly in a lot of pain. It didn’t look like a simple rash or irritation anymore. I called his pediatrician the next morning and explained everything. We were referred to a foot specialist who asked us a lot of questions about what Peyton had been doing, what he was wearing, and what kind of shoes he had on.
Then we mentioned something that suddenly made the pieces start to fit together—Peyton’s light-up shoes had stopped working around the same time all of this started. That was a big clue for the doctor. He told us Peyton had second-degree chemical burns on his feet, and he believed they were caused by the light-up shoes. Apparently, when these kinds of shoes get wet, the internal batteries or wiring can leak chemicals that are harmful to the skin. Our doctor had only seen one other case like this before, so it’s rare, but it’s real. Peyton’s shoes were from Skechers, a brand we’ve trusted for years without any issues.
The specific model was called “Rayz,” and they even had an on/off switch for the lights. We never once thought they could be dangerous if they got wet, especially since they’re made for kids. It was heartbreaking to learn that something so small could lead to so much pain. Peyton has been incredibly brave through all of this. It was supposed to be the first day of his summer break—a time to play, be outside, and hang out with his friends and siblings.
Instead, he’s had to keep his feet wrapped up, stay off them as much as possible, and miss out on all the fun. We were prescribed Silvadene cream, which we’ll be applying for three weeks, and he’ll be starting a two-week round of steroids to help with the healing. It’s a long road, but he’s handling it like a champ. As a mom of nine kids, I’ve seen a lot, but I never would have guessed that light-up shoes—something meant to bring kids joy—could turn dangerous under the wrong circumstances. We live in New York, and like many parents, we’ve relied on brands like Skechers for affordable, fun, and reliable shoes. This experience has completely changed the way I think about what my kids wear and what risks might be hiding in everyday items. If you’re buying light-up shoes for your children, please be cautious. Don’t let them wear them near water or play in puddles with them. Kids love the lights—they’re fun and exciting—but they’re not worth the risk if there’s a chance the internal battery could leak and cause burns. We wouldn’t have connected the dots if the lights hadn’t stopped working right around the time Peyton’s symptoms started. I’m sharing this story in hopes that it will raise awareness and help other families avoid a painful and scary experience. My heart goes out to anyone who’s been through something similar, and I hope Peyton’s story serves as a reminder that even the most innocent-seeming products can carry hidden risks. Please share this with other parents—whether on Facebook, Twitter, or just in conversation—so we can all be a little more prepared and protect our kids in ways we may not have considered before. Peyton is healing, but the lesson we’ve learned will stay with us forever.
