Ever found yourself in a situation where you need to get a permanent marker stain off your skin? Then this is for you.
Maybe your kids have been drawing on themselves with it, or you’ve been doodling on the fridge and the marker got all over your wrist.
In any case, you don’t want this marker to be there forever. While these marks may be easy to remove on other surfaces, removing them from the skin is a little trickier.
Luckily, there are a few hacks you can try to remove permanent marker ink from your skin. In this guide, I’m going to teach you a few different ways to do so safely and effectively.
How to Get Permanent Marker Off Skin
There are many methods for removing permanent markers from the skin, ranging from quick remedies such as rubbing alcohol, to natural treatments using lemon juice or olive oil. Below are some safe and easy hacks that have worked for others in the past and without a doubt work for you.
1. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is one of the best remedies you can use for removing permanent marker stains from the skin. It works because the alcohol dissolves the ink of the permanent marker on contact.
It’s super easy. All you need to do is apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball or rag and rub in small circles on the ink until it fades away (this might take a few minutes).
To make this process easier, you can use soap and water before applying the rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt or oil from your skin that could make the rubbing alcohol less effective.
2. Olive Oil
Olive or coconut oil is a natural and effective way to get permanent marker stains off your skin. Both contain properties that are nourishing for the skin and help break down stains quickly and with ease.
- The first thing you want to do is wipe off any excess ink with a wet towel.
- Pour a little amount of olive oil onto a cotton ball and wipe the area with the permanent marker.
- Rub the stain vigorously until all the ink comes off of your skin.
- Wash off any residue with soap and water.
- Rinse and pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Use Toothpaste
The truth is, you don’t need to go to the store to buy an expensive remover. Toothpaste can also help to remove permanent marker stains from many surfaces, including your skin. To do this, all you need is toothpaste, a paper towel, and water.
- Start by thoroughly washing the area with soap and water.
- Next, go over the area with a dry cloth.
- Apply a generous amount of toothpaste on the area with the marker stains.
- Scrub with a paper towel for at least two minutes.
- Rinse the toothpaste off your skin, and wash with soap and water.
- With this simple process, the ink should come right off of your skin.
4. Make a Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is a kitchen staple that you can use for just about anything. This includes getting those annoying sharpies off your skin.
The method is simple:
- Wipe off as much of the marker as possible with a wet cloth or paper towel.
- Mix a small amount of baking soda and water to make a paste.
- Apply the mixture to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Scrub gently with your fingers for about 10 seconds or more until you’ve completely removed the stain.
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water for best results.
SEE: These 13 DIY Materials Can Get Sharpie off Your Skin
5. Use Lemon Juice
The next time you find yourself with an ugly, permanent marker stain on your skin, give this method a try. Lemon juice is much better for cleansing sensitive or damaged skin because it’s a natural astringent and antibacterial agent. Plus, it smells really nice.
- Cut a lemon fruit in half and squeeze the juice out of it.
- Rub the juice all over the area where the permanent marker was applied.
- Let it sit for about 10 minutes before wiping it off with a cloth or paper towel soaked in warm water.
- Repeat this process using another fresh lemon if necessary.
6. Try Baby Oil
You may have heard about using baby oil to remove permanent markers from clothing or other surfaces, but did you know it also works on the skin? Baby oil is a gentler alternative that will remove the permanent marker with no skin irritation or strong odors.
- Apply a generous amount of baby oil onto the affected area and allow it to soak in for at least five minutes.
- With a dry paper towel, gently rub the ink until it has transferred onto the paper towel.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you’ve removed all the ink.
- Rinse the area with soap and water after you’re done rubbing away as much as possible.
7. Use Nail Polish Remover
Nail polish remover is an oil-based solvent that can help loosen and dissolve the ink on contact. It contains chemicals like acetone which are strong enough to break down the chemical bonds of permanent marker ink, making it easier to remove.
- Apply a little amount of nail polish remover on a cotton ball.
- Place the cotton ball on top of the stained area for at least 5 minutes.
- Scrub in gentle circular motions for two minutes at least.
- Once the ink has been loosened, place another cotton ball with nail polish remover over it and continue scrubbing with circular motions for about ten seconds.
- Rinse the stained skin with soap and water
8. Apply Shaving Cream
Another easy and effective way to get permanent marker ink off your skin is to use shaving cream. Shaving cream contains ingredients like alcohol and oil which can help to remove ink stain from the skin.
- Get the shaving cream and apply it to the ink stain.
- Make sure you are using enough shaving cream to cover the entire ink stain.
- Rub the ink stain with your fingers or a washcloth for about 10 minutes for the best results.
- Rinse off all of that excess shaving cream with water and blot dry with a towel.
- If any of the colors remain, repeat steps 1-3 until there are no signs of any more color left.
9. Use a Salt Scrub
Although this process can be a bit messy and time-consuming, using a salt scrub will help exfoliate your skin, hence removing any ink stains on it.
- Remove as much of the ink as you can with a towel or washcloth.
- Mix 1 tbsp of salt in enough water until you have a fine sand-like consistency.
- Apply the salt scrub mixture to the stained skin, and rub it in circular motions for about 10 minutes.
- If the ink doesn’t come off after 10 minutes, continue to scrub until you see results.
SEE: Get Slime Out of Kids Hair With These Simple DIYs
10. Use Hand Sanitizer
Most hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which is very effective in removing stains. An alcohol-based sanitizer works by reactivating the permanent marker ink, so you can easily remove the stain.
- Use a cloth or paper towel to blot the permanent marker off of the skin.
- Apply a generous amount of hand sanitizer onto the stained skin.
- Rub with a towel or cloth in circular motions for 3-5 minutes.
- Repeat this process until you completely rub the permanent marker off.
- Wash off with soap and water.
11. Spread Some Butter
Many people think that using butter to get permanent marker ink off skin is a myth. Although it may sound strange, this method actually works.
The butter’s oil helps to weaken and break up the ink, allowing you to remove the stain from your skin easily.
- First, wet a washcloth with water and use it to remove the excess ink.
- Then, cover the wet area with butter and rub in circular motions for about 5-10 minutes.
- After rubbing, wash off the butter with soap and water to get all of the ink residues off.
12. Use Sunscreen Lotion
Sunscreen lotions contain oils and chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octisalate that protect you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. But the good news is that these chemicals and oils can also be used to dissolve ink stains.
- Apply sunscreen lotion directly to the affected area.
- Rub the lotion in circular motions until you completely rub the permanent marker off.
- Rinse with plain water and dry with a towel.
13. Hairspray
Using hairspray to remove ink from the skin is a common trick in the beauty world. Hairspray has solvent-like properties that help to dissolve the ink particles on the skin, which are then easily wiped away.
Hairspray also has a wetting property that can help break down the oil in your skin that might make ink removal more difficult.
- Spray hairspray on the stain that’s on your skin (hold the can 10 – 12 inches away).
- Allow it to sit for about 20-30 seconds before using a paper towel to dab at it with slight pressure.
- Repeat this process until all the stains are gone or until you feel you’ve covered it sufficiently enough.
- Wash off with soap and water.
14. Use Vinegar
You may not know it, but people have used vinegar for years as a natural cleaning agent. It is also antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-carcinogenic, making it a great solution for getting permanent marker stains off the skin.
- Mix a teaspoon of white vinegar with some water and dip a cotton ball into it.
- Clean the stained skin with the mixture and gently rub with your fingers to remove any ink residue.
- Repeat this process if there is still ink on your skin.
- Wash it off and pat dry before you put any lotion on.
15. Soak in a BathTub
Bathtubs can be a great place to soak in and relax. However, it can also be a great place to get marker stains off your skin.
- Prepere a warm water bath and add some essental oils.
- Soak in the bathtub for about 15 minutes.
- Exfoliate the area of your body where the marker has been applied with a loofah sponge.
- Finally, pat dry with a towel and then apply a moisturizer.
SEE: How to Remove Acrylic Nails- 9 Simple Hacks You Need to Know
FAQs
Can I remove marker stains from my face?
Yes, you can. Put a few drops of baby oil on a cotton ball and apply to the area where the marker has stained your face. Rub in circular motions for about 30 seconds before washing off with warm water and a gentle cleanser.
Is writing on my skin bad?
No, it is not. But you should not write on your skin if you have any kind of open wound. You should not write on areas near your eyes or when you are sweating profusely either.
Can I get permanent marker ink off my cloth?
Yes, you can. You can use hot water and baking soda to remove permanent marker from your cloth.
Start with wetting the fabric with hot water. Then, put on rubber gloves and cover the wet area with baking soda paste. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then wash off the area with soap and water before drying.
Conclusion
Permanent marker is a common culprit in many household accidents. It’s not just kids who end up covered in these inks; adults can accidentally brush up against the wrong surface and find themselves in the same situation.
Unfortunately, these stains can be very difficult to remove and don’t just come out with a quick wipe.
Instead, it needs to be scrubbed and prepped for removal. And if you don’t do it correctly, there’s a chance that your skin will be left with an unsightly color.
With these simple hacks, you can be rest assured that any marker stains on your skin will go away quickly and efficiently.
Thanks for reading.
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