What should be out of hurt in Halloween Costume?

The more children and adults go out of their way to scare others by adding to their cosplay costumes, the greater the chance they might end up causing a number of serious health scares themselves.

From allergic reactions to trips to the emergency room, there can be some serious consequences for people who wear costumes that don't fit properly or aren't meant for their sensitive skin or eyes. Halloween may only be one night, but some of these medical issues, if not taken seriously, can last a lifetime.

One of the more common concerns among those getting into costumes is over allergies to rubbery latex masks and accessories, according to Lisa Penzimer, a makeup artist at Arlene's Costume Shop in Toms River.

There's a reason latex allergies are a serious concern. Beyond a red rash that can appear where the latex is applied, someone with bad latex allergies can have respiratory problems if exposed to the substance too long, according to Dr. Robert Holtzin, medical director of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's Urgent Care.

Penzimer said latex doesn't stop at rubber masks and face accessories. Even some of the sponges she uses to apply makeup are made of latex.

"If you're online or you go to a business or someone is selling these things on the side, they need to verify the prescription," said Dr. Richard Wise, a Galloway Township-based ophthalmologist associated with Shore Memorial Hospital.

Wise said prescriptions are necessary because there can be serious problems for people's eyes if contact lenses don't fit properly. Corneal abrasions are scratches that appear on the eye. Those eventually heal.

The more serious complication is a corneal ulcer, which is caused when not enough oxygen is getting to the eye. Wise said these ulcers can be very painful and in some cases lead to permanent loss of vision.

For those reasons, Wise said he doesn't put in contact lenses for people unless they need them to see. However, for those that need contact lenses to see, Wise said it's safe to use properly fitted contact lenses, even if they give off an unnatural feel.