Facebook post shows the dangers of using acrylic paint on children’s skin

With Halloween only around the corner many children will be breaking out the face paints.

One thing you don't want to break out though is your child's skin. My mother used to work as a face painter so I've always known what was safe to use on my skin and my children's but a lot of parents don't realise the vast difference between face paints and craft paints and why you should never use the latter on your child's skin. Last year I saw a post being shared around social media which shows just how damaging using anything other than face paint can be to a child's sensitive skin and it's something every parent should be aware of. When I first saw this post I thought I was seeing burn marks until I read the accompanying status. I was horrified when I realised that the marks were the result of unsuitable paints being used as face paint. Posted by Holly Nicole George she wrote;

"It's festival season Mamas! PLEASE don't let anyone paint your kid's faces if it looks like they're using acrylic or craft paints or glitter! These are not intended for use on the skin and can leave chemical burns and irritations, craft glitter can scratch the cornea if it gets in the eyes. Professional face painters will use cosmetic grade paints and glitter that are FDA approved for use on the skin. I get that a lot of schools, fairs, churches etc. are working with tight budgets, but being too cheap to hire a professional can injure the children who are supposed to be having fun. It's not worth it and could even get you sued. Just hire a pro or invest in the right equipment if you're going to be doing it yourselves!"

A few years ago I had someone use acrylic paint on my face which I didn't realise until I attempted to take it off. If I had known what it was I would have refused to put it on my face as it was a nightmare to remove. It was extremely painful to scrub off for me as an adult so I can only imagine how horrible it would feel to a small child. Unsuitable paints are also particularly dangerous around areas like the eyes and can cause blisters and rashes. Always make sure before applying anything to your child's skin that it is safe and if in doubt, go without.