Whether you come home to find that your child has tattooed themselves with a sharpie or you accidentally got some ink on your hand while writing, don't worry - it's not as permanent as you might think. Luckily, there are some easy ways to remove marker from skin using only home remedies you already have on hand!
The traces of a permanent marker do not penetrate deeper than the surface of the skin. This means that with regular hand washing and the natural oils from your pores, they will disappear within two to three days anyway. However, if you want to speed up this process, these home remedies can help you. You may need to repeat some procedures several times before you can completely remove the marker from skin.
Make a sea salt peeling
Sea salt has natural exfoliating properties. When mixed with warm water, you can create a gentle scrub to exfoliate the top layer of skin. Mix equal parts salt and warm water to make a paste. Gently massage the scrub into your skin twice daily - but do not rub it.
Rub the ink stain with olive oil or coconut oil
Take a generous amount of real olive oil and rub it into the ink stains. Take a piece of paper towel and rub the grease with it. You should see the ink peeling off onto the towel. Like other natural methods, this won't completely remove the stain, but it will significantly fade the ink. Make sure that you then wash off any oil residue with soap and water.
Baby oil is another alternative
The idea behind baby oil is that it can attach to excess skin oil and then remove any substances. Theoretically, this could also work on felt-tip pen stains. Simply apply a small amount of oil to the affected area and then wash it off. However, be careful if you have acne-prone skin as applying additional oils could cause breakouts.
Try using shaving cream
Shaving cream contains a mixture of oil and soap that can be helpful in removing shavings from skin. Rub a generous amount of shaving cream onto the affected area and leave it on for one to two minutes. Use a damp towel to work the foam into the skin. You may need to repeat this process a few times to completely release the marker.
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Use chemically based household removers
If you are in a pinch, you can remove the pigments from a felt-tip pen using household chemicals. This includes:
- Spirit
- nail polish remover
- Hand sanitizer
- Mouthwash
You can use these remedies up to optimally twice a day. Apply a small amount of your chosen product with a cotton ball and then rinse with warm water.
Makeup remover is a less aggressive option
Make-up remover can be another solution to remove felt-tip pen from skin. Compared to household chemical removers, this is a less aggressive option. Apply it with a cotton ball and massage it into the skin in circular movements for a few seconds. Rinse the area thoroughly with warm water.
Also read:Ink stains on furniture and textiles: How best to remove them
How to remove felt-tip pen from skin – use white toothpaste
Teeth aren't the only thing that toothpaste gets squeaky clean. To remove felt-tip pen stains with this, first choose a white toothpaste - gel toothpaste will not work as well. Run warm water, wet your skin at the site of the ink stain, and apply a thick layer of the toothpaste. Leave this on for 1-2 minutes before rubbing it into the skin with your fingertip. Massage until the ink is completely dissolved, then rinse with warm water.
Frequently Asked Question – Is ink harmful on skin?
Conventional felt-tip pens contain ingredients that are considered toxic, such as resin, xylene and toluene. If these come into contact with your skin, mild irritation may occur. Symptoms include redness, swelling and itching. However, an accidental print of permanent marker is unlikely to cause any adverse reactions.
How can you remove ballpoint pen stains from clothing or leather using only home remedies?find out here!