PHOTO MYRA IQBAL. The lashings of surma parents apply to their infant’s eyes could lead to anaemia, growth retardation and even kidney problems. Many people think surma or kohl is made of one of antimony’s minerals, stibnite, that was used in Egyptian cosmetics four or five thousand years ago as black eyeliner.But the truth today is that commercially produced surma has less antimony and more Lead Sulphide.hat angers her most is the use of surma on wounds. “Parents should never apply surma to a newborn’s umbilical cord, as it can lead to infection, such as tetanus,” she warns. “Surma’s quality, especially its composition, is a mystery.