Liquid latex may also be used as body paint and allows for better perspiration, however care should be taken to avoid the painful removal of hair when the latex is pulled off.

As for Mehndi, natural brown henna dyes are safe to use; however, synthetic black dyes can cause serious skin allergies, and require patch tests before the actual paintings commence.

Whatever the type of body paint (the same is true for cosmetics), should the skin show any sign of allergy, one should immediately cease using it.
Moreover, it should not be applied onto open wounds, nor should it be applied too close to the eyes.
It is not advisable to use paints or products which have not been formulated for use on the body as these can result in serious allergic reactions.

Many artists work professionally as body painters across the world.

Their work is seen regularly in television commercials, such as the Natrel Plus campaign featuring models camouflaged as trees. Body painters also work frequently in the film arena especially in science fiction with more and more elaborate alien creations being body painted.
Stills advertising also used body painting with hundreds of body painting looks on the pages of the world's glossy magazines every year.