A Florida woman is sending chills down spines this Halloween season, and it has nothing to do with ghosts or haunted houses. With October looming, costumes and masks are filling store aisles, and shoppers are eager to dive into the spooky fun. But before you slip on that vampire mask or pirate hat at Spirit Halloween, you might make you think twice.
On TikTok, the woman delivered a public service announcement that instantly went viral. Her message? Spirit Halloween’s most beloved tradition. Trying on masks, hats, and wigs. While it is all in fun, it may come with a frightening twist. The Florida native revealed that something unseen could be clinging to those shared costumes, and it’s far more unpleasant than a jump scare.
Her bone-chilling point. Costumes in those crowded aisles can spread pink eye and lice. That playful moment of testing out a new look could leave shoppers with an unwanted souvenir. Social media users quickly piled on, backing up the warning with stories of their own, and even past employees admitted that sanitization is far from guaranteed inside the stores.
The Frightening Truth Behind the Warning
Experts confirm the concern isn’t just superstition. Pink eye bacteria can survive on fabric for days, making shared masks a perfect breeding ground. Meanwhile, October is peak lice season, with wigs and hats being tried on by dozens of people every day. Even though lice can only live off a host for 24–48 hours, the constant turnover of costumes creates the perfect opportunity for them to spread.
There are ways to stay safe without losing your holiday spirit. Wearing a protective cap under wigs or hats. As well as sealing purchased costumes in a bag for a few days, or running them through the dryer can help kill off pests. And as always, avoiding touching your eyes and washing your hands after shopping is a must.
Image Source: Unsplash
“Really adds to the scary, spooky vibe this time of year,” one follower writes.
“I threw up for days after doing this. Never again!” warns another.
“Coming from the medical field, she is absolutely right!!, reveals one more.
“Mind you, people’s hands have been in places unknown!”
“Who even does that?” chimes in another cautious shopper.
Halloween should deliver thrills, not doctor’s visits. The Florida woman’s haunting reminder is clear: the spookiest thing at Spirit Halloween may not be the costumes at all, but the germs you can’t see. Before you try on that mask, remember. Sometimes the scariest monsters are microscopic.
Hunter Spears 
