An aerosol can has left a "dumb" Auckland boy scarred for life.

WARNING: Contains graphic images some readers may find disturbing.

There's been planking, nek nominations and the ice bucket challenge, but a potentially more dangerous craze to reach New Zealand is the frosty challenge, involving kids burning themselves with aerosol cans.

Health experts have warned against the challenge, where children dare each other to spray a deodorant can on their skin at close range for the longest time.

LEONIE BARLOW An Auckland boy suffered this wound after completing the frosty challenge.

Auckland mother Leonie Barlow raised concerns over the trend after her son suffered a serious injury to his leg.

The gaping wound was similar to a chemical burn and was likely to leave her 13 year old boy with a lifelong scar, she said.

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The wound was his reward for winning the frosty challenge against his school friends, she said.

"He obviously stood it the longest and it's left him with a really deep chemical burn."

Barlow said her son was embarrassed to admit what he'd done and felt very regretful and "dumb".

"He didn't realise what the consequences would be. He feels completely stupid but has learnt a valuable lesson."

After suffering the burn two weeks ago, her son had been seen by a doctor and had dressings put on it.

It was not infected.

She said she hoped other children would heed the warning after sharing the graphic image of his wound.

"My son will be pretty grumpy about it (sharing the image). But at the end of day it's bad luck, he has to face the music."

The frosty challenge has appeared on YouTube and other social media sites in the US and the UK in the past.

The British Skin Foundation issued a warning in 2014 saying they "would never encourage the use of any aerosol product in close proximity to the skin for a prolonged period".

"These products should be used appropriately and responsibly as extended use can lead to the freezing action producing a cryogenic burn".