USM scientists develop protective face paint for soldiers | News

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM)- The University of Southern Mississippi, the Dept. of Defense and the Sci Genesis company have partnered to develop a new type of military face paint that will help shield soldiers from the effects of intense heat.

The product goes on like regular make-up and comes off with just soap and water.

It's awaiting FDA approval.

"Ours (face paint) will be more comfortable to wear," said USM Professor Paige Buchanan, co-owner of Sci Genesis. "It will breathe, it will feel more like a cosmetic, instead of military face paint. Then on top of that, we have added thermal protection," she said.  

"It uses several different mechanisms to convert heat so that it doesn't burn your skin," said Kelli Booth, president of Sci Genesis. "It uses the heat to do something else in the coating," she said.

"If it saves lives or if it saves people from being injured, obviously that must make you feel good about what you do," said Professor Robert Lochhead, director of the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at Southern Miss.   

A similar face paint is also being developed for firefighters. 

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