How to Get Pen off Your Skin

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Updated: June 26, 2019

Explore this Article Removing Pen Ink Using Solvents Removing Pen Ink with Household Items Article Summary Video Questions & Answers Related Articles

So that cute girl finally gave you her number by scribbling it on the back of your hand. You're super excited, except you don't want to get home and have your nosy little sister start questioning you about whose digits are on your skin. Or maybe you've been taking notes at school all day and end up with pen ink smeared all over the side of your hand (this is a daily struggle if you're a lefty). Even worse, maybe the kid you're babysitting for got hold of a ballpoint and decided to scribble all over her face. Whatever the reason is, you want that ink wiped out without a trace. Read on to learn different methods for safely removing pen marks from your skin.

Removing Pen Ink Using Solvents

  1. 1
    Wet a cotton ball or washcloth with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit) and scrub the ink off your skin. Rubbing alcohol is often your best bet for removing the oil-based ink found in most pens. It dissolves oils, allowing you to wipe the ink off your skin.[1] Many other cleaning agents use alcohol as the main solvent, so using it straight should give you the best results.
    • Try not to use the rubbing alcohol in a small, confined space, as the smell is very strong.[2]
    • Isopropyl alcohol and its fumes are extremely flammable, so don't use it around an open flame or heat source.[3]
    • The alcohol will also remove your body's natural oils along with the pen, so you should moisturize after rubbing it on your skin.
  2. 2
    Spray the pen marks with hairspray and wipe them off with a clean towel. If you don't have rubbing alcohol on hand, look for an alcohol-based hairspray instead.[4] The alcohol will break down the ink. Depending on the concentration of alcohol used in the hairspray, it may take a few applications to remove the ink.[5]
    • The hairspray will leave behind a sticky residue, so once the ink has been removed, rinse your skin with soap and water.[6]
    • Hairspray is highly flammable, so be careful when you are spraying it. You should never use it anywhere near an open flame.
  3. 3
    Use a cotton-ball soaked with acetone nail polish remover to rub off the ink. The solvent acetone will cause the pen ink to break down and dissolve, similar to rubbing alcohol. It is also highly flammable like alcohol, and the vapors can be toxic in large amounts, so use in a well-ventilated area.[7]
    • Acetone can be very harsh on your skin, so use it sparingly and be sure to rinse your arm with soap and water and moisturize afterwards.
  4. 4
    Squirt hand sanitizer onto the ink and rub in small, circular motions. The alcohol in hand sanitizer will break down and loosen the pen. Wipe the area with a clean cloth and the ink will wipe off with the sanitizer.[8]
    • The amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer varies. Look for one that is 60%-90% alcohol.[9]
  5. 5
    Spray or wet the area with white vinegar, then use a paper towel to rub away the ink. Vinegar contains the acetic acid,[10] which is an effective solvent that can dissolve oil and many other compounds.
    • Using a rough paper towel will help exfoliate the skin,and remove layers of dead skin cells that are stained by the ink.

Removing Pen Ink with Household Items

  1. 1
    Wash the ink off with soap and water. This is probably the easiest and most accessible solution. If the ink is oil-based, as many ballpoint pens are, you may not have much luck, but if the pen uses water-soluble ink, it should wash off right away.
    • Water-based inks tend to seep through paper and take longer to dry, so they are more likely to smear and get on your skin.[11]
    • Roller ball pens and some gel pens are usually water soluble.[12]
  2. 2
    Rub vegetable shortening or butter on the ink. It will be kind of gross and may get messy, but the oils in these products will help dissolve the oil contained in the ink. Dissolving the ink will bring it to a liquid state, and when you clean off the butter or shortening with a dry paper towel, the ink should start to come off.
    • This same principal means that oils like coconut oil, baby oil, or olive oil will also help dissolve the ink. Pour some oil onto a paper towel and use it to scrub off the ink.
  3. 3
    Squirt non-gel toothpaste onto the ink and rub it into the skin. Toothpaste contains baking soda, which will pull the ink off the surface of your skin.[13] The toothpaste may cause your skin to tingle. Use a damp cloth or water to rinse off.
    • Look for toothpaste that isn't see-through (or gelled) or sparkly. It should be an opaque paste and will often be white.
  4. 4
    Rub a cooled, used teabag over the pen ink. After making yourself a cup of tea, set the tea bag aside and allow it to come to room temperature. Once cooled, scrub the ink with the tea bag. It should rub off easily.[14]
    • The oils in the tea, combined with the rough fabric of the bag, will work together to break down and lift the pen off your skin.[15]
    • Don't be too harsh when you rub the tea against your skin, or you may break the bag and spill tea leaves everywhere.[16]

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    Why can't I get the ink off with soap and water?
    Community Answer
    Sometimes the ink sticks to your skin, try rubbing shaving cream on it, then washing it again.
  • Question
    What can I do if I don't have these things?
    Community Answer
    Try washing it with simple soap and scrubbing your skin with a little bit of pressure while the soap is still on.
  • Question
    Can I get ink poisoning from drawing on my skin?
    Community Answer
    Yes; however, it is very hard to get it. You'd need massive amounts of ink to contract ink poisoning. Try to stay away from using a Sharpie and don't draw on a cut or open sore on your skin. A small doodle won't hurt though.
  • Question
    Do methods differ if it's red pen and not ball point?
    Community Answer
    Usually, no. It does differ if it is water based vs. oil-based. Try using your favorite method and if that doesn't work, rub coconut oil on it and retry.
  • Question
    How do I get white pen ink off of my hand?
    Community Answer
    Any color ink will work for these methods above.
  • Question
    What to do when there's pen on your leg?
    Community Answer
    If soap and water don't get it off, try applying toothpaste and waiting for the toothpaste to dry before rinsing it off.
  • Question
    If I draw on myself a lot, is it OK to sleep with the ink still on me?
    Community Answer
    It takes large amounts of ink - and mostly oil-based ink - to actually harm you. To reduce risk of ink poisoning and cancer, use water-based ink, since ink can go through your skin and into your bloodstream on some occasions.
  • Question
    Is it safe to sleep with a pen drawing on my wrist overnight?
    Community Answer
    As long as it is not a large amount it should be fine. You can wash it off in the morning.
  • Question
    How do I tell whether ink is oil or water based?
    Community Answer
    If it is more watery and slightly transparent, it is water based. If not, it is oil based.
  • Question
    If I cut myself and draw over it before it's done fully healing, will the ink stay in the skin and become permanent?
    Community Answer
    Well, you could possibly get an infection. It's not a very good idea, I wouldn't encourage you to do it. The ink could possibly be permanent, but then again I just wouldn't do it at all.
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    wikiHow Video: How to Get Pen off Your Skin

    Article SummaryX

    To get pen off of your skin, start by washing your hands with soap and water, which may remove most of the pen mark if it is water-soluble ink like a gel pen. For stubborn marks from rollerball pens, wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and scrub the mark with the cotton until it disappears. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, you can spray the pen mark with hairspray and wipe the area clean with a towel, repeating as necessary until the ink disappears. If you want to learn other ways to remove pen, such as using hand sanitizer or toothpaste, keep reading the article!

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    • You can't get ink poisoning from drawing on your skin. Pen ink is not generally considered poisonous, and you should only be concerned if you've swallowed a large amount of ink at once.[17]
    • If any of above don't work or you don't have the materials, a cut lemon rubbed on the ink does the trick. Leave it on for three minutes then wash off with soap and warm water. After this apply hand cream to stop your hands getting dry.

    Article Info


    Categories: Pen Ink and Marker Stains

    In other languages:

    Español: quitar manchas de pluma de tu piel, Русский: стереть чернила от ручки с вашей кожи, Português: Tirar uma Mancha de Caneta da Pele, Italiano: Pulire l'Inchiostro sulla Pelle, Français: enlever des marques de stylo sur la peau, Bahasa Indonesia: Membersihkan Tinta Pena dari Kulit, Deutsch: Stift von der Haut abbekommen, Nederlands: Inkt van een pen van je huid krijgen, العربية: إزالة الحبر من جلدك, 中文: 去除皮肤上的笔渍

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