Acrylic paint spreads evenly and dries quickly, but it can be painful to take it off your skin if you've had a little "inconvenience". Fortunately, the skin is oily and non-permeable, which means that the acrylic paint cannot adhere easily. To get rid of it, all you have to do is take action quickly and find the right substance to dissolve it.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: with water and soap
Step 1. Treat the paint stain immediately
If paint has just fallen on your skin and it still hasn't dried, take action promptly. When the color begins to dry it becomes harder and solidifies, making the removal process more difficult; if it is still damp, you should be able to wash it off without too many complications.
This is especially important for larger stains, which are more unsightly and more difficult to remove once dry
Step 2. Rinse your skin with warm water
Run it over the affected area; the heat should loosen the paint that has begun to dry out and you should be able to remove a lot of it by doing this. The rinsing also allows to weaken its adhesion capacity, because the skin becomes more slippery.
- You may even be able to get rid of the fresh stain completely with this technique.
- Acrylic paint is a water based emulsion, this means it is water soluble.
Step 3. Use a mild soap to wash the area
Mix mild hand soap or liquid cleanser with water to lather and wash your skin thoroughly, applying firm pressure with your hands or a towel.
A normal dish soap is perfect for this type of operation, as it contains both abrasive and degreasing substances that break down dry stains
Step 4. Repeat and then dry
If the soap and water method successfully removes the paint on the first try, dry the skin and wait a day; if not, you may need to repeat the process again until the paint residues have faded and are washed off completely. Soap the area again; the surfactants present in the product combined with the mechanical action should be able to eliminate any trace left.
Method 2 of 4: with baby oil
Step 1. Wash your skin with warm soapy water
Wet the affected area with warm water to loosen the paint and lather with a mild liquid cleaner. Try to remove as much color as possible with this technique and then dry thoroughly with a cloth before applying baby oil.
Since the oil and water are not miscible with each other, you cannot spread the baby product on the still wet skin
Step 2. Rub the oil into your skin
Pour some directly on the paint and massage it; if the stain is particularly stubborn, use your fingertips, a cotton swab, or a sponge to scrape off the dried paint. Baby oil is particularly effective for breaking down and dissolving dry stains from acrylic and oil paints.
- This method represents a much gentler and healthier solution than various solvents, whose active ingredients are harsh chemicals.
- Use a mildly abrasive item, such as a cotton ball or sponge, to scrape the paint off deeper areas of the skin.
Step 3. Rinse away the loose color
Run a little more hot water over the area to be treated to remove and dissolve the paint; if necessary, use more baby oil on the residues. In addition to dissolving color spots, this oil keeps the skin smoother and more hydrated.
Method 3 of 4: with Denatured Alcohol
Step 1. Wash the affected skin with soap and water
If the paint has already dried, you need to find other techniques to get rid of it. Start by washing the stain with warm soapy water; loosen the color as much as possible, in order to reduce its adherence to the epidermis and lightly rub the site to be treated while bathing it.
Blot the area with a towel before proceeding so that there is no more water to dilute the alcohol
Step 2. Apply denatured alcohol to a cloth or cotton ball
Indifferently take a cloth or a large piece of cotton wool and wet it with about 30 ml of alcohol; this substance acts as a solvent and therefore begins to break down the color as soon as it comes into contact with the skin.
- To simplify the procedure, place the cloth or cotton on the opening of the alcohol bottle and turn it upside down, soaking a circular portion of the fabric perfect for rubbing on the epidermis.
- Pure denatured alcohol is one of the most recommended methods for removing paint from different types of surfaces.
Step 3. Rub it vigorously over the stain
Dab the area with the cloth or cotton wool to get it wet and give the alcohol time to act on the paint; then proceed with small circular movements to remove the color from the microcracks of the skin surface. Keep scrubbing until all the paint is gone, reapplying the alcohol as needed.
To get to the debris that has penetrated deeply, you need to scrub quite vigorously
Step 4. Wash and dry your skin
Once all traces of paint have been removed, wash and dry the area to free it from any residual alcohol; denatured alcohol is a bit irritating and can cause redness and irritation if you don't rinse it off promptly.
Method 4 of 4: with acetone
Step 1. Run warm water over the stained area
Loosen and hydrate the color again with warm water, scratching off any thick lumps with your nails; rinse the area until the bond between the skin and the paint begins to weaken.
Step 2. Wet one corner of a towel with acetone
Find a soft, thick cloth, dip a corner of it in the solvent and let the excess drip off before treating the area; fold or curl the rest of the cloth under the solvent-soaked corner to create a surface to scrub.
- Acetone is a more aggressive alternative to denatured alcohol and you should only use it when soap, water and alcohol have not produced satisfactory results.
- It is mainly used as a nail polish remover and has therefore proven to be very effective in removing dry acrylic paint.
Step 3. Press the towel over the skin to be treated
Apply the acetone-soaked cloth to the stained area and hold it there for 30 seconds or a minute; this solvent may cause a slight burning sensation or irritation, but this is completely normal. When you hold the cloth to your skin, the acetone "erodes" the dry paint patch.
Since it has slightly caustic properties, it is irritating to the skin, but is generally not dangerous; before applying it make sure you have no known allergies or intolerances to this substance
Step 4. Rinse off any paint and wash the skin
Rub the treated area with the corner of the towel; once most of the color is gone, rinse the cloth with warm water and scrub again. This way, you continue to break down the chemicals while eliminating the acetone. When the paint has completely disappeared, wash the leather with warm water, mild soap and then dry it.
Make sure you always wash the skin surface that has come into contact with the acetone
Advice
- Treat paint splatters as quickly as possible to simplify the cleaning process.
- You can also use hand sanitizer or baby oil to loosen paint that has already dried on your skin.
Warnings
- Although acrylic paint is typically non-toxic, some products may still contain latex, which is a common allergen.
- If you experience symptoms of allergies - such as persistent itching, swelling, dizziness, or difficulty breathing - after coming into contact with any type of acrylic paint or acetone, seek medical attention immediately.
- You should apply acetone only to the areas affected by the paint and do not leave it in contact for more than a couple of minutes at a time.
- Do not use acrylic paint on your body or face, as it can be difficult and even potentially painful to remove from large areas of skin. For this reason, use only specific colors for the body and face.
