reaction to paints

Just had my first real skin reaction situation... it wasn't bad, it was a friend's child. I had forgotten until after the fact that she had mentioned at one point that he is allergic to foods with red colouring in them. So, after I heard that he had broken out in hives from the paints it occurred to me that was probably what it was. I'm not surprised that they would use food dyes for the face paints since they would be the safest colours to use, but it's something to be aware of and thought I should share that. A tidbit of knowledge to keep rattling around in your brain in case you ever came across a child who had a reaction, ask if they are allergic to any food dyes/colours.

ohhh good one

This is interesting that you posted this. I just had my first reaction on myself. I was trying a metallic purple from wolf on my arm and when I washed it off it was red and hot. We are trying to decide if it was from just the paint or if happened because I used a baby wipe to take most of the paint off before I washed it . . . .

Perry Noia wrote: I'm not surprised that they would use food dyes for the face paints since they would be the safest colours to use, but it's something to be aware of and thought I should share that. A tidbit of knowledge to keep rattling around in your brain in case you ever came across a child who had a reaction, ask if they are allergic to any food dyes/colours.

http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditiveInventories/ucm115641.htm

This link talks about FDA appoved colors for use in cometics. Scroll down to the Pink Highlighted areas.

You'll notice it gets confusing about what can't be used on the lips and what can't be used on the eyes etc. But basically you can see that there are only so many colorants that are approved for cosmetic use and some of them cross-over between food colorants and cosmetics colorants (color is color).

~Michelle Heffner

TBH has been a LOT recently about reactions in the industry worldwide, and i think all but 1 were due to babywipes. Even had a lot who cleaned their paints with babywipes complaining about some reaction that made their paints stink like sulphur!
Is why i try to stick to damp facecloths - reuseable and less chance of reaction...

cat x

while I often use baby wipes on my hands and occasionally on a messy child's face... in this particular case, I know it was the colouring that did it. I spoke with his mother and they already knew he had an allergy to red and blue food colours. He had medication with him because they run into reactions with him a lot, so it wasn't serious and he washed it off himself as soon as he felt it itching. I told his mother that at least now he knows that if he'd like to get his face painted again, he knows to ask for different colours. I only did a pirate face on him with black and red... had he asked for a different coloured bandana than red, we might not even have known that he would have a reaction.

I have just had my first child and adult react to the paint I use - it was the Black Iris split cake from TAG and it was only the dark purple colour in it. They both had a little butterfly and when washed off, the skin was red where the purple was. The child doesn't suffer from sensitive skin but the adult does. I used a baby wipe on the child but not on the adult.

This is all very helpful - thank you
Bry

yeah, I've found that normal baby wipe really irritate my skin, especailly on my face. Instead, I use the exfoliating moistureizing wipes made by walmart.... these:

http://www.viewpoints.com/Equate-Exfoliating-Facial-Cleansing-Towelettes-review-b91415?just_posted=true&partner_product_page_url=#

I was practicing painting the red pixar car on my arm and kept cleaning the area, over and over with baby wipes. It's just so convenient instead of having to constantly go to the sink. My arm became irritated and was bright red. I must say I was quite rough cleaning the area because I was so upset with my painting, I don't get to practice often so when I do, I just go for hours!
I usually use baby wipes that are for sensitive skin, but I'm going to give the Equate exfoliating wipes a try. Thanks for the tip Punky.

I just noticed my paradise paints say on the box not to use red, orange or yellow near the eyes, and not to use blue or green on the lips. I've seen lots of designs using those colors in those areas, and I had never noticed that warning before. Now I'm concerned...

I have a friend who is highly allergic to red dye. This is any red dye containing a certain PEG number. I can't remember the number I think it's PEG-50 or PEG-75. This ingredient (I'm not a chemist so bare with me) is found in food coloring, paints, clothing dye, and dyes used medical testing like MRIs. But different products that use red dye don't all contain the same PEG ingredients. So there may be reds that his isn't allergic to as long as they don't contain that certain PEG #. (Did you get all that?) The allergy my friend has is so severe he will swell up to a point where his wind pipe will close if and he will most certainly need to go to the hospital.

Anyway, I have snazaroo paints and on the back lable it does show PEG ingredients. I was worried about this because unfortunately you may not know you have this allergy until its too late. Not all red dyes or food coloring use the same PEG # so you might have a child who has gone for a long time with out ever encountering the PEG # they are allergic to. If its any help I have a sign on my picture board that does say to "tell me if you child is allergic to anything". It hasn't come up. I am thinking in the future of asking any parent with a child who wants the "red" spiderman or darker purples if they have allergies to red dye or any allergy for that matter.

Tricia - I am new to facepainting and when I got a small pallet of snazaroo from my local craft store in October last year I didn't notice any warning. Then when I got the large single cakes there were warnings on the back of each not to use it on certain areas of the face. I am going to try to make a note for myself and keep it by my paints so I don't use any of these things in the wrong place. But yes I too see those colors on all areas of the face and I have used the colors on my eyes and lip areas not really caring. But after reading this I'm going to follow the recomendations for others.

The only one I really worry about is putting red near the eyes.. That's the one that seems to be for all brands. I believe that Snazaroo was tested safe even if the kids started chewing on a cake of it (except for the possible choking hazard) so I wouldn't worry about particular colours near their mouth with snaz.

You can usually adjust the design slightly to keep the red off the eyes or just to the outer corners of the eyes so it is less likely to go in.

so much going on these past months about problems with the paints.
i wish some one would get to the bottome of this..the factories need to know these problems or stop making the colors that are causing the problems.

I don't think it is anything new with the paints or product formula - I think it relates to the general increase in allergies. The people who are allergic would be allergic to the item regardless - same types of ingredients are in the paint that are in food and other cosmetics. It's just an unusual situation for someone to get painted (except face painters kids).

http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r081022.htm

It may not be such a bad thing..maybe it is the push the companies need to make better safer paints.. I know in the last five years the cosmetic industries has changed dramatically with regards to organic/natural/mineral makeup and product so hopefully all this discussion will lead somewhere?? Hundred monkeys kinda thing?
I've recently started using a bit of TAG but if I'm covering the eye area I still revert to Snaz and no red on the eyes either. And as i had a bad experience early on with a kid getting a reaction to baby wipes I use actual make-up remover wipes which have cleanser/toner/moisturiser in one.
Also Bryony was it definitely a reaction or just a stain? Some of the Tag purples stain red if left on overnight (I know cause I've left the paint on my arm overnight and it was a weird red). A reaction will generally sting/itch/flake/blister whereas a stain just sits.

JBM wrote:Some of the Tag purples stain red if left on overnight (I know cause I've left the paint on my arm overnight and it was a weird red). A reaction will generally sting/itch/flake/blister whereas a stain just sits.

I agree -- my daughter complained to me that my grandson had an allergic reaction to a spiderman design I painted on his arm. I told her I doubted it was a reaction, but to wash it longer, with more soap and water to be sure. She did, and called me back to say it was gone. I think cheap baby wipes could cause a reaction too.

My goodness, Tricia, every time I see your name, I do a double take. That is what I go by too.
As for the reactions, I have never had a child react before, but I, myself, have reacted. Surprisingly, it was to snaz paints on my arm, but I think that it might have been the baby wipe I used to clean it that caused the reaction. From now on, I will tell people to use washcloths, water, and soap instead of baby wipes, though. Just to be safe.

I've never had anyone react before, until now - my 13 year old daughter will only let me paint her on her face with snazaroo (and starblends) now. She says TAG and DFX etc give her a headache. She'll let me paint her arm with the others (other than snaz) still - but I don't like to, as she says it hurts.

She didn't used to complain about the other paints on her face... so maybe it's one of those reactions that take a while to build... ?

Oops I missed this thread, I actually just asked this same question, I too had an experience with my daughter reacting to TAG paint, specifically the purple and the pink the the TAG petal one stroke I just got. she's never reacted before to any other paint. I haven't tested yet to see if it will happen again. It didn't seem to bother her much and she didn't complain but it was definitely red and itchy looking. I did NOT use baby wipes on her, just soap and water.

Just wondering... when people say they use baby wipes, do they mean alcohol-free baby wipes? Because there are 'baby wipes' (which personally I would not wipe on my own or anybody else's face), and there are 'baby wipes for sensitive skin' which are usually alcohol & fragrance-free & are MUCH gentler (these are the only ones I would wipe on anybody's face).

WOW, hate reading this all, cause I was just ordered TAG red for an extra cake at the festival next week. I wanted Snazaroo but the Forum didn't have the red and I didn't want to pay shipping again somewhere else just for snaz red (I was ordering some other things on the forum). Now, I'm going to be nervous to do spiderman with it.

Try blending some skin color paint as base under the red, it's an extra step but will ease your nerves.

I use the sensitive skin, alcohol free baby wipes on myself to clean my hands off, or when practicing. For parents, I always recommend using soap and water to clean faces, or baby shampoo.

I wonder if make up removal wipes from Costco would work good. My daughter has some, but they have green tea or something in them. Would that irritate the skin?

My daughters use the costco make up wipes too, but for me I don't like them because they do irritate my skin.
On gigs I will also use alcohol free baby wipes for sensitive skin to clean small mistakes on a design and for my hands, even though I also use hand sanitizer to clean my hands.