I suspect that I have developed a sensitivity to odorless mineral spirits. I’ve been breaking out with a rash on my face for the past six months, and it seems to recur after oil painting. I’ve been using Turpenoid, but wasn’t ventilating my painting room adequately until recently and soon it will be too cold to paint with windows open.
I’ve got quite an investment in oil paints and mediums, so would rather not switch to water-mixable oils or acrylics unless necessary. Also, I am not totally sure the rash is caused by OMS exposure, although the circumstantial evidence is compelling. The rash goes away if I don’t paint for a while and seems to come back when I paint, particularly if for several hours or days in a row.
I recently bought some Gamsol to use instead of Turpenoid, but it’s still OMS. Are there other good options that I should consider for cleaning brushes and thinning oil paints? I really love oil painting and have learned many techniques for using it over the years. Not a fan of acrylics, watercolors, pastels for my personal work although I appreciate work by others in various media.