acrylic paint on your skin?

Question

I painted my arms legs hands and my face using acrylic paint is that bad... my finger tips are itching really bad?!

Answer 1

Soccer, I have taken college art classes for 30 years now, and from the beginning, the information about acrylic paint has left me wondering what the full story is. Acrylic paint tubes have a listing from the ASTM, which decides what's toxic for artists, say they are non-toxic. Yet, anything you read about the pigments, which are what create the color in any paint, say that many are indeed toxic. My professors have always said acrylics are not made for application to skin.

Even wearing gloves, artists using acrylics wind up with paint on themselves. I have never heard of anyone itching. So that suggests to me that you may be allergic, or at least sensitive to the paint. If anything more than itching starts, see a doctor. We all hope that we are safe. I suppose when enough people who use acrylics start getting old, if we all have some similar cancer or other disease, we'll know what it was. Or maybe we'll be fine, I hope!

When you want to do body painting again, there are body paints available from many sources, so use that.

Answer 2

So these people who are saying you could be allergic to latex don't know about paints. I'm severely allergic to latex and I paint with acrylics every day and even paint my face with acrylics although it's not too good for the skin. When paints are referred to as latex paints that is talking about the base. Water based paints are referred to as latex paints therefor making acrylic a latex paint meaning it is water based unlike an oil paint which is oil based. I am a student at SCAD which is one of the top art schools in the world. I know a lot about art supplies and the art supplies I use. I'll attatch a photo of what I did with acrylic paint the other day. Keep in mind if I touch something that has been touched with latex, I break out in hives and my throat begins to close. That being said, I am sure if you reacted to acrylic you aren't allergic to latex but rather something else considering acrylic doesn't have latex in it.

Answer 3

Yeah, it's bad. You covered up WAY too much of your skin, for one thing. Skin needs to breathe, and acrylic in its dried state is quite impervious.

And in its wet state, toxins could have entered your body through your pores. And you could definitely have a latex allergy, as mentioned above.

To top it all off, it was probably the devil to remove, right? You're probably still wearing a lot of it. And the best substance to remove dried acrylic is REALLY toxic, I mean super-toxic, and you definitely don't want to rub that all over your body at this point.

Take a Benadryl and use some hydrocortisone cream, see if the itching stops. If it gets worse, you'll need to go to the emergency room for some more serious meds.

Answer 4

Acrylic paint is not too dangerous. But you probably went over board a little. Just get an Antihistamine from the Drug Store.

Or wash well, and rub some Lavender Oil on.

Answer 5

Yes it can. Although it isn't the best thing, your skin will absorb a lot of it. Because of this where the paint is applied I will appear to look cracked or just discounted skin. Try applying some on the top of your hand and see how it looks. To get it off hot water from the shower just peels off. Soap will clean your pores. Don't use face wash until after you have te paint off because all it will do is smear it and cause a whole ew problem. Have fun :)

Answer 6

The harsh chemicals will bring about a touch of harm; regardless of the possibility that its "non-toxic" paints, it is still not advised on your skin. Acrylic is additionally very hard to work with, as opposed to ordinary face and body paint. don't try it next time...

Answer 7

If your fingertips are itching, you may have an allergy to latex, which means you should avoid excessive skin contact with acrylic paints. If you have any difficulty breathing or swallowing, definitely dial 911.

Answer 8

Hi,

You don't specify what kind of acrylic paint.
Contact the manufacturer or check their site if they have one.
If you still have the can/pot/tube, take it to a doctor or hospital.
Health issues are to be solved by professionals.

Kind regards,

José

Answer 9

Next time have a plan before you paint. What do you do to clean up a paint spill after it is dry???

Answer 10

You may be allergic to something in the point, so you should probably wash off the paint and think twice before painting yourself again.