After many home improvement and decorative projects involving glossy paint, a person may also have paint on his hands, face and arms in addition to the object or walls painted. Latex paint used for interiors is water-based, making it easy to remove. Oil-based paints, however, are more of a challenge, but there are a few ways to get the gloss paint off your skin.

  • After many home improvement and decorative projects involving glossy paint, a person may also have paint on his hands, face and arms in addition to the object or walls painted.
  • Latex paint used for interiors is water-based, making it easy to remove.

Wash skin with regular soap and hot water for a few minutes. For water-based paints, this is usually the only thing you need to do to get the paint off.

Squeeze baby oil onto the paint on your skin. Saturate the area with the oil, and rub it in. This is effective for removing oil-based gloss paint. The baby oil seeps into the paint, helping it to dissolve. Other useful items include olive oil, mayonnaise, petroleum jelly and Vick's VapoRub, reports the Paint Splashes website.

Apply a small amount of turpentine to a cloth, and rub it into the paint on your skin. Apply more turpentine if the paint is difficult to get off. Use turpentine as a last resort because it is flammable and toxic.

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To preven paint from getting on your skin, wear protective clothing that covers the skin.