Sharpies are used on multiple surfaces like metal, plastic, clothes, or wood to create permanent or semi-permanent impressions. Xylene and toluene are used to make the ink which keeps the impressions created by Sharpie long-lasting. It must be an Oops moment if you are wondering how to get Sharpie off your skin.
You can`t use hit-and-trial methods to take permanent ink off your skin when accidentally you get it on. As it is meant to stay for long so scrubbing hard or longer will not work but may give you skin rash and irritation. Moreover, the process of removing permanent markers from the skin may be kind of frustrating as they are fade-resistant and quick-drying.
How to Remove Permanent Marker from Your Skin
At its own permanent marker will take two to three days to fade away and around a week to go off completely. So in this post, we have listed some tried and tested methods that will fasten the process of fading permanent ink from the skin.
1. Sea Salt Scrub To Remove Permanent Marker From Skin
All you need to do is prepare a gentle scrub by mixing sea salt in warm water. Keep the consistency like paste. Now you got a nice and natural exfoliator ready for your skin. Massage the area of your skin you got a permanent marker gently twice a day.
Note: Do not get harsh on the skin and rub off it with pressure this may create itching on the Skin.
2. Use Natural Oil To get Sharpie off Skin fast
Oils like coconut or olive prove to be saviors when you face “body paint” emergencies. Smear a few drops of coconut oil on your skin and rub it gently for a few minutes. Along with moisturizing your skin these oils also act as a barrier between the outer world and your skin’s top layer (epidermis).
Plants oils are blended with the permanent marker stains during the massage to help remove the mark smoothly.
3. Use Baby Oil to get Sharpie off toddler skin
Similar to plant oils baby oil also ascribe to the human bodies excess oil and when you rub it the marker ink will fade away gradually. As we know baby oils are exclusively tested for a child’s skin so it could be the first preference if you need to take off permanent markers from sensitive skin or from a baby’s skin.
Rub baby oil on the affected area gently and leave it for some time allowing it to sock in the skin. Gently wipe the stained area with a wet washcloth.
4. Use Banana Peel to Remove the Permanent Marker
Yes, you read it right. A few people tried banana peel quite effectively to take Sharpie off the skin. Grab a ripe banana and peel it off. Now rub the peel from inside in a circular motion on the skin where the permanent marker stained the skin. Keep rubbing for 2 to 3 minutes and then wash the skin with water and pat dry. You need to repeat it a few times.
Every time you wash the affected area keep moisturizing it with mild oil. Oil minerals keep bidings with the marker stain and ease the process of removing the marker from the Skin.
5. Use Butter to get Sharpie off Skin easily
If the above-mentioned oils are not available at home you can use butter instead. Butter has similar properties to lotion or oil which will help to fade the marker ink from the skin rapidly. Smear a small amount of butter on stained skin and gently rub it. Or keep a soft cloth soaked in butter on the marker-stained skin area for some time.
Rub the area and you will notice the ink getting faded on the skin, rinse the skin with warm water to wash away loose particles of stain. Repeat the process times and again until you get the desired result.
6. Use Toothpaste to Remove Permanent Marker from Skin
Similar to rubbing toothpaste on teeth for getting the stains off it is a handy option to lighten the sharpie marks from your skin as well. Toothpaste will work as an exfoliator on the skin and will help to fade the stains gradually. Apply the paste to the affected area and let it stay for some time. Now rub it gently with a soft hand.
Remember as compared to the above-mentioned methods toothpaste would be a little harsh on the skin as it contains chemicals in it. So avoid rubbing too hard or keeping it on the skin for too long.
7. Use mouthwash to erase permanent Marker from Skin
This step should be followed after you tried the toothpaste to fade the marker ink from the skin. Now take any alcohol-based mouthwash. Pour a few drops of it on a washcloth and then rub the affected area gently. Do not overdo this remedy as it may cause irritation for people with sensitive skin.
Alcohol-based products make the skin dry so you must moisturize with a quality lotion or baby oil after completing the process.
8. Use hairspray to Remove Permanent Marker from Skin
Hairspray works well to fade away the permanent marker from the skin. Pick any hairspray which contains alcohol. Go to a well-ventilated space to use it. Sprig the hairspray onto the marker-stained part of the skin in an ample quantity. Spread the hairspray with the help of fingertips or a cloth to diminish the stain.
You may see most of the ink being dissolved, use warm water to rinse your skin and pat it dry.
9. Use Hand Sanitizer to Remove Permanent Markers from the Skin
The ink of the permanent marker could be faded with the help of a hand sanitizer. The present upright amount of alcohol in the hand sanitizer declines the color of the permanent marker gradually. Use warm water to rinse your skin, and keep repeating the process until you conquered the desired result.
You can use alcohol-added cleansing wipes also instead of hand sanitizer they will also serve the same purpose.
10. Use bug spray to Remove Permanent Marker from Skin
If your bug spray is not giving effective results for fighting pesky bugs yet it can be used in skin paint emergencies. Insect repellent comprises isopropyl alcohol which liquefies permanent marker ink. Spray a hefty amount of bug spray over the stained skin and spread it with the help of your fingertip.
Keep spraying the bug repellent and scrubbing the marker stain and soon you may see it dissolving. Then wash the area with soap and water.
11. Use rubbing alcohol to Remove Permanent Marker from Skin
Rubbing alcohol is super effective for most stubborn marker stains from permanent markers. Pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol and smear it directly on the skin where marker stain is there. Spread it with the help of fingertips and you may see the marker started fading quite quickly.
Repeating this process a few times will result in a complete didapper of marker stain. Wash the stained place with soap and warm water.
12. Use shaving cream to Remove Permanent Marker from Skin
Put on a fine fat splotch of shaving cream on the marker-stained area of the skin. With the help of tissue rub it nicely and you can see it smearing in the foam. Add more quantity of shaving cream if the stain is still there.
Keep rubbing the marked skin until the stain fades away and at last rinse your skin with warm water.
13. Use nail paint remover to get rid of Permanent Marker from Skin
Nail paint remover or acetone are not skin products yet could be used in body paint emergencies. These products will melt permanent marker ink similar to it does to nail polish and all without damaging your skin. But as we know nail polish remover evaporates quickly one needs to apply it repeatedly.
Soak a cotton ball in remover/acetone and clean the marked skin with it. Keep on adding polish remover as soon the old one evaporates and rub it until the persistent smudge has vanished.
14. Use Makeup remover to get rid of Permanent Markers from Skin
Whether you use liquid makeup remover or makeup wipes the result would be the same so grab whichever is handy. From liquid makeup remover take a few drops on a paper towel and start rubbing the stained area. Gradually you can see the stain fading away.
Using Makeup wipes makes the process easier and mess-free. Run off the permanent marker stain with wipes. Repeat a few times to get the desired result.
15. Use Sunscreen to get rid of Permanent Markers on Skin
Your skin`s best friend product “sunscreen” is also an effective way to remove the permanent marker from the skin. Coat the permanent marker stain with a thick coating of sunscreen. Let it stay there for a while to help slacken the stain. After some time start rubbing it with your fingers in a circular motion and the stain will start fading.
Note: Sunscreen Spray works best to remove permanent markers from the skin in comparison to cream or lotion.
Permanent Body Marker
People with an intention to use permanent markers on their skin for sports or to draw a temporary tattoo are advised to buy a marker specifically made for the skin. You can try the safest body ink options like Temporary Tattoo Marker from Amazon at $29.99
Such products are waterproof and unlike traditional Sharpie markers, these are not full of toxic ingredients. Yet if you have sensitive skin you must perform a patch test before using such products.
Takeaway from post
Permanent markers cannot stay on your skin forever so there is no need to panic if accidentally you get them on your skin. These marks will eventually fade away when regularly washed and your skin pores secrete natural oils. When your kids get a permanent marker on their skin do not try a chemical-based product to remove it.
Or in case you get inked on a sensitive area of the body then pick the remedies with natural ingredients only. If you need to get rid of marker colors a bit quicker then use the home remedies mentioned above. Be mindful while picking the remedy and do not use any ingredient you are allergic to. Prioritize using non-chemical-based remedies to Get Sharpie off the skin.
