If you’ve tried to paint with acrylic on your skin, you know first-hand how it feels. You’ll probably half to scrub it off before bed and will regret painting on the most prominent spot of your body.
Acrylic paint is safe on skin , but it contains toxic ingredients such as lead and formaldehyde that can be dangerous if inhaled. Lead for example , is a heavy metal and a neurotoxin that can cause brain damage and permanent brain injury. Formaldehyde, which is used commonly in the production of paints, furniture adhesives and other household items, causes respiratory problems such as asthma, coughs and wheezing.
This post will teach you everything you need to know about using actual acrylic paint on skin, the risks associated with it and how you can make acrylic paint safe on skin.
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Is Acrylic Paint Safe for Skin?
Acrylic paint is a versatile medium that can be used for both traditional and non-traditional art. It is known for its durability, versatility and affordability.
Acrylic paint has been gaining popularity in the world of body painting, but you should know that not all acrylic paints are safe for use on skin. In fact, some brands contain ingredients that can be harmful if applied directly to human skin. There are so many reasons why acrylic paints are toxic on skin, I’ve listed a few below;
Reasons Why Acrylic Paint Is NOT Safe For Your Skin
The following are some of the reasons why acrylic paints are not safe for human skin:
1) The Ingredients in Acrylic Paints Can Cause Irritation and Allergic Reactions.
The resin used to make acrylic paints can cause irritation when exposed to UV light — which is what happens when you expose yourself to sunlight or tanning beds after using it on your body. Some brands of acrylic paint also contain fragrance chemicals that may cause reactions in some people.
Also, acrylic paints contain chemicals such as styrene monomer . Styrene monomer is also known to cause cancer in animals( Source) when they are exposed to high levels of this chemical over time.
2) Contains Methyl Methacrylate Monomer
methyl methacrylate monomer( Source) has been linked to cause irritation of the skin So, when shopping for an acrylic paint product, look for one labeled “non-toxic” or “water soluble” — these will be safer choices for use on skin than those labeled as “permanent.
How to Paint Acrylic Paint on Skin?
In case, you decide to experiment painting acrylic on your face, here is a detailed guide;
Step 1: Wash Your Face With a Towel
Before you start painting your skin, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. The first step is crucial in painting acrylic paint on skin . This will remove any dirt or oils that could impair your ability to paint. Then dry your face with a towel.
Step 2: Choose Your Colors
You can use any colors that you like when painting your face, but most people use reds and greens on their faces during Christmas and the Fourth of July holidays. If you’re going for a more contemporary look instead, try using bright blues or purples instead of reds and greens.
Step 3: Apply the Base Color
Use a thin brush or your hands to apply your base color to one side of your face — the cheekbone area is typically the best place for beginners to begin. You may want to start with just one color at first so that it’s easier for you to see what you’re doing while you’re learning how to paint designs on skin. Incase you do not like your results, you can wash off acrylic paint with soap and water.
Acrylic Paint on Skin Removal
There are lots of different techniques for removing acrylic paint from skin, but here are a few that work well:
1) Warm Water and Soap
Wash the area with warm water and mild soap. This will loosen up any remaining paint, which you can then wipe away with a damp rag or washcloth.
2) Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol will dissolve most acrylic paints and help remove them from the skin. Rubbing alcohol should be used in combination with warm water and soap because it doesn’t work as well on its own. You might want to use small amounts of alcohol to avoid dryness and skin irritation ( Source).
3) Baby Oil
Baby oil works similarly to rubbing alcohol, but it’s better at removing stubborn stains like red and blue paint. It’s also less drying than rubbing alcohol so it doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight or irritated after use.
How to Make Acrylic Paint Safe for Skin
When choosing an acrylic paint for use on your face, look for one that has been specially formulated for face painting. These paints are often called “face paints” or “makeup paints” and should be used with care as well as caution by anyone who plans to apply them directly onto their skin.
Safety Tips
- Do not ingest acrylic paint
- Keep acrylic paints out of reach of children.
- More so, keep all brushes, palettes and other tools out of reach when not in use.
- Wipe up any spills immediately with dry paper towels or tissues. Do not use water because it will dilute the acrylics and they may become unusable.
- If you do get some acrylic paint on your skin or clothing, rinse thoroughly with water immediately. If there are any spots left behind after rinsing, use a non-toxic hand cleaner (like dishwashing liquid) and warm water to remove them before they set in place and become difficult to remove later on.
What Paint Is Safe to Use on Skin?
Water-based paint is safer on skin. This means that the water in the paint will evaporate as it dries, and this will allow the rest of the paint to stay on your skin. Additionally, this is a good option if you’re painting a large area of skin, such as your arms or legs.
Does Acrylic Paint Stain on Skin?
Acrylic paints are water-soluble, so they can be easily washed off skin with soap and water. If you have a particularly stubborn stain, you can try using rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to remove it.
If you do get acrylic paint on your skin or clothing, you’ll want to clean it up as soon as possible. Acrylics dry quickly and become difficult to remove once they begin to harden.
What Happens if You Put Acrylic Paint on Your Body?
Acrylic paints can often be used on skin without a problem, but sometimes they can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. If you’re planning to use acrylics on your skin, make sure that you’re using a primer or basecoat that’s designed for use on skin.
Primer helps prevent the paint from staining your skin and also makes it easier to wash off after your project is finished. You can use oil-based primer or water-based primer depending on what you’re painting and whether you want to create a glossy finish or one with more shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use acrylics on skin?
Acrylic paint can be used on skin, and it’s actually a great medium for temporary tattoos. To make the most of this medium, though, you’ll need to use a special type of paint that’s made for skin.
Is there any difference between acrylic paint and other types of watercolor paints?
Watercolor is typically made from plant-based pigments, whereas acrylics are made with synthetic dyes.
How do I remove acrylic paint from skin?
Acrylic paints will come off easily with soap and water or rubbing alcohol/witch hazel if they haven’t dried yet
Conclusion
While it’s debatable whether or not, skin is an inappropriate surface for acrylic paint due to the lack of protection for the skin, there are still ways in which people have experimented with painting directly on the body. A helpful rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, you probably shouldn’t put it on your skin either. Thanks for reading!
SOURCES
Medium: Is It Safe to Paint Your Body with Acrylic Paint
Quora: Is it okay to have acrylic paint on the skin for 3 hours?
