Dress safely on Halloween for a ghoulishly good time
Experts offer the following advice for helping children select a scary yet safe costume.
Fora ghostly glow that does not block a child’s ability tosee, makeup is safer than a mask. Face painting alsoadds to the fun of dressing up.
Following are tips from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for face painting and other ghoulish effects:
Read the label first, and only apply makeup where it is intendedto be used. Makeup for nails or hair is probablynot safe on skin. Makeup safe for skin may cause irritation if applied too close to the eyes.
Testmakeup on a small area of the arm a few days before thebigday to check for allergies prior to applyingit to the face.
Check the FDA Web site to verify that thecolor additives inthe makeup have been approvedfor use onthe skin. Visit www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/opa-col2.html.
False eyelashes can irritate eyes. Follow directions on thepackage for safe application and removal.
Remove makeup according to package instructions.
Decorativecontact lenses are illegal, so never use or purchaselenseswithout a prescription. Cosmetic andnon-correctinglenses can cause permanent eye injury andmay lead to blindness if used improperly.
To complete thelook in a scary but safe way, follow these tipsfrom the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Add reflective tapeor striping to costumes and trick-or-treatbags so kids are more visible to traffic.
Make sure shoesfit well and costumes are short enough to preventtripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
Whenshopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase thosewith a label indicating they are flame resistant.
