How to Remove Ink from Skin

So finally that cute girl gives you her phone number by writing on your hand. You’re overjoyed, but you don’t want to get home from your nosy sister asking whose number it is. Or maybe you spent all day taking notes at school, and looking back, the edge of your hand was covered with ink and ink (this is a daily nuisance for left-handed writers). Worse, maybe the kid you’re looking after grabs a ballpoint pen and paints it all over his face. Whatever the reason, you probably want to get rid of any ink stains. Read on for different methods to safely remove ink from your skin.

Table of Contents

Solvent ink removal

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Apply isopropyl alcohol (cleansing alcohol or rubbing alcohol) to a cotton ball or washcloth and rub the ink off the skin. Rubbing alcohol is often most effective at removing oil-based ink stains commonly used in ballpoint pens. The alcohol will dissolve the oil and help you wipe off the ink. ^{[1] X Source of Research} Many other cleaners also use alcohol as the primary solvent, so applying alcohol directly will give the best results.

Try not to use rubbing alcohol in a narrow and enclosed space, as the smell of alcohol is very strong. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Cleaning alcohol and alcohol vapor are extremely flammable, so do not use alcohol near open flames or heat sources. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Alcohol will also strip the skin of its natural oils with ink, so you should moisturize your skin after rubbing alcohol.

Spray hairspray onto the ink stain and wipe it off with a towel. If alcohol is not available, you can find alcohol-based products instead. ^{[4] X Research Source} Alcohol will help break down the ink. Depending on the alcohol content of the hairspray, it may take several sprays to remove the ink. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Hairspray will leave a sticky residue, so you need to wash your skin with soap and water after you have removed the ink. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Hairspray is also flammable, so be careful when spraying, Never use hairspray near an open flame.

Use a cotton ball dipped in acetone nail polish remover to wipe away the ink. Similar to rubbing alcohol, the acetone solvent will break down and dissolve the ink. Acetone is also flammable, and large amounts of acetone vapor can be toxic, so you need to use it in a well-ventilated area.

Acetone can be very strong for the skin, so use only a small amount and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water, then apply moisturizer.

Spray a little hand sanitizer onto the ink stain and rub in small circular motions. The alcohol in the hand sanitizer will decompose and dissolve the ink. Use a clean rag to wipe the ink, and the ink stain will disappear. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer is not the same. You should look for one that contains 60%-90% alcohol. ^{[8] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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Spray or apply white vinegar to the area with the ink stain, then wipe it off with a paper towel. Vinegar contains acetic acid, ^{[9] X Source Research} an effective solvent that can dissolve oils and many other compounds.

Wiping with a sandpaper will help remove dead skin cells from the ink-stained skin.

Remove ink with household materials

Wash the ink with soap and water. This is probably the easiest and most convenient solution. If it’s an oil-based ink like most ballpoint pens, you’re probably out of luck, but water-based ink will clear up in no time.

Water-based inks tend to soak through the paper and take longer to dry, so they tend to smudge and stick to the skin. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Ballpoint pen ink and some gel pens are often water-based. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Rub butter or margarine on the ink stain. This will be greasy and dirty, but the oils in these products will help dissolve the oil in the ink. Once dissolved, the ink will turn liquid and begin to flake off as you wipe away the butter with a dry paper towel.

With the same principle, oils such as coconut oil, baby oil or olive oil also work to dissolve the ink. Pour a little oil on a paper towel and wipe off the ink.

Squeeze a bit of non-gel toothpaste onto the ink stain and rub it into your skin. Toothpaste contains baking soda that draws ink to the surface of the skin. ^{[12] X Research Sources} Toothpaste can irritate the skin. Wipe with a damp cloth or wash with water.

Look for a toothpaste that’s not transparent (not gel-based) and doesn’t have glitter particles. The cream should be an opaque paste and usually white.

Use brewed and cooled tea bags to rub on the ink stains. After making the tea to drink, save the tea bags and let them cool to room temperature, then rub on the ink stains. Ink stains will easily fade away. ^{[13] X Research Source}

The oily substances in the tea combine with the sandpaper layer of the tea bag to decompose and remove the ink on the skin. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Do not rub the tea bag too hard to avoid tearing the bag and spilling the tea all over the place. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Advice

Ink on the skin does not make you poisoned. Only if you swallow a large amount of ink is there to worry. ^{[16] X Research Source}
If all of the above doesn’t work or if you can’t find the above ingredients, cut a piece of lemon and rub it on your skin. Leave it on for 3 minutes, then wash it off with soap and warm water. After removing the ink, you should apply hand cream to prevent it from drying out.

Steps

Solvent ink removal

Remove ink with household materials

Advice

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