5 sneaky Halloween costume health concerns

Halloween fun starts with a great costume. However, parents often make a few common mistakes when choosing their child's costume.

Parents can help their children stay safe and avoid a hospital visit by following a few simple rules when choosing costumes.

Here are five top costume health concerns and how to avoid them:

Beware of borrowed costumes.

Wearing an unwashed costume from last year or one that's been borrowed can cause skin infections from leftover bacteria. Wash any costume before use.

Avoid costume mask hazards.

Wearing a full-face mask as part of a costume can result in difficulty seeing, headaches, acne or a skin infection if it doesn't fit properly. Make sure to try on the mask for a few minutes before buying it, and have your children and teenagers wash their faces after the Halloween fun is over.

Mitigate makeup mistakes.

Some makeup can contain dyes and other components that can cause skin irritations and rashes. A few days before Halloween night, test the makeup on a small patch of skin on the arm or stomach to make sure your child isn't allergic.

Ditch colored contacts.

Wearing nonprescription colored contacts can cause scratches, infection or blindness. These eye accessories aren't made to fit each individual's eye. Avoid the contacts, and opt for eye makeup or fun glasses instead.

Choose flame-resistant items.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the most common reasons kids visit the hospital on Halloween is for burns from flammable costumes. Purchase costumes with "flame-resistant" on the tag.

Bonus safety tip

Increase visibility of costumes.

Traffic safety is extra important on Halloween because of low visibility. Remind your children to watch for cars. As an added safety measure, have your children decorate their costume with reflective tape or stickers, and carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Read more about Halloween:

• Treat yourself to the best this Halloween
• Tips to keep your Halloween safe

Jessica Sosso, M.D., is a physician in Family Medicine in Sparta, Wisconsin.