There is a high chance of staining your skin with spray foam, especially if you’re not wearing the right clothing. It is, therefore, only natural to want to know how to stay calm and handle such a situation properly.
You can safely remove spray foam from your skin using basic materials you find at home. For example, washing immediately with warm water and soap or applying petroleum jelly on the skin for a couple of minutes works wonders.
Is spray foam very dangerous to the skin? What are the implications of having spray foam in direct contact with the skin? And are there ways to prevent spray foam from smearing the skin?
We made this article to answer these questions and to walk you through the simple steps you can follow to remove spray foam from your skin. So, enjoy the read!
Is Spray Foam on Skin Dangerous?
Spray foam insulation is popular and remains one of the best choices among builders and homeowners today because of its high performance against heat loss. It seals off all the tiny cracks and holes that house bugs and air in your building and prevents moisture from creeping into any structure it is installed in.
Indeed Spray foam insulation looks like a clear winner at face value. However, what most people don’t know is that using spray foam insulation comes with its own risk, and there are certain precautions every installer and homeowner should follow when using spray foam.
Spray foam contains some chemicals that can be hazardous when in direct contact. Installers must use the right protective gear when dealing with spray foam, and the right gear should protect the nose, eyes, and skin.
Exposing your skin to spray foam can cause skin sensitization, which brings about symptoms like rash, swelling, itching, and skin reddening. Sensitization is caused by Isocyanates, one of the chemicals used to produce spray foam insulation. Isocyanates irritate mucous membranes, so direct contact with skin can lead to inflammation.
How to Safely Remove Spray Foam From Skin
Spray foams are originally made to be tough to remove, especially after they have dried off. However, you can be assured that it will fall off your skin after a few days; this doesn’t mean you have to wait long before getting rid of it. Therefore, we have come up with possible solutions that can help speed up the removal process.
Here are some of them.
- Acetone: It is best to apply acetone to your spray foam-stained skin if it isn’t dry yet. All you need to do is dip a cloth in acetone and gently rub it on the spot. But do not pour acetone directly into the skin as it can cause irritation and dryness. Also, ensure that you apply a moisturizer after using acetone on it because it dries out the skin.
- Water & Dish Soap: The combination of water and dish soap can loosen a dry spray foam. All you need to do is fill a ribber glass halfway with water and little soap. Wear the gloves and tape them around your wrist for a couple of hours. This process makes spray foam loosen and ready to be scrubbed off whenever.
- Exfoliated Soap: This soap includes little exfoliating beads for scrubbing dead skin cells. Therefore, using it to scrub off spray foam from your skin is another solution. It can take away residue leftover from the spray foam on your skin.
- Petroleum Jelly: This is another substance you can use to peel off spray foam from your skin. Petroleum Jelly works by softening up dried foam. All you need to do is apply a thick layer onto your hands/skin and wrap them with a pair of disposable gloves or plastic. Ensure it stays this way for about an hour before washing it off with warm soap and water. Most of the spray foam should wash off along with the jelly.
- Isopropyl Alcohol: This is another method of breaking up dried spray foam on your skin. About 91% of Isopropyl alcohol will do the job. However, ensure that it stays on your skin for no longer than ten minutes to prevent irritation. Wipe away with a clean towel afterward, and it peels off like nothing.
Be careful not to use commercial solvents like WD-40 or lacquer thinners to remove spray foam from your skin, as these chemicals can be easily absorbed and cause severe irritation.
What about your clothes? Since spray foam insulation expands quickly and sticks to the surface, its contact with clothes is no exception. Therefore, the key to removing this insulation from your cloth is to act fast because it becomes almost impossible to remove once it hardens.
How to Prevent Getting Spray Foam On Skin In The Future?
Indeed, the chemicals in spray foam insulation have many health risks, and they are particularly dangerous during installation and curing stage. However, spray foam should stop emitting fumes once it cures unless it isn’t installed properly. Long-term exposure to the chemicals in spray foam insulation can cause health issues like asthma, vision, lung problems, and rashes.
Protective gear like overall clothing, chemical-resistant gloves, and eye and face protection are one of the most effective ways to prevent spray foam from touching your skin.
The EPA advises homeowners to leave their homes for about 24 to 72 hours after installing spray foam to allow the foam to cure. The instruction is backed by science, and we strongly advise you to adhere to them after installing them.
