How to Get Pen and Permanent Marker Off of Skin

It may comfort you to know that ink from a pen or permanent marker will fade naturally over time — two to three days, according to the Northern New England Poison Center. So, even if you do nothing, your child's skin will soon return to its unblemished state. In some cases, such as when the marker is on an inconspicuous part of their body, doing nothing may actually be preferable to other methods, since certain products or repeated scrubbing can irritate the skin more.

"Soap and water during normal hand-washing helps, and the rest comes off eventually after a certain number of baths," Erin Kravitz, who has a young daughter, told Mom.com. "Most stuff soaks off in the tub, especially with a little help from a washcloth."

If you can't or don't want to wait for the ink to go away on its own, however, these suggestions may help. One general note: Like most other stains, ink on skin is easier to remove when it's relatively fresh. So, if you can get your child in the bath or at least near a sink quickly, you may have better results.

If the ink stains in questions are water-based — lucky you! — they should be fairly easy to remove with normal bathing. Water-based inks are frequently used in children's washable markers, such as those made by Crayola, which recommends good old-fashioned soap and water for erasing inadvertent body art.

"Normally, Crayola washable products can be removed from the skin by washing with soap and water," the company's website states. "If you are unsuccessful with soap and water, try using baby wipes, baby oil, or makeup remover. Since Crayola washable products are water-based, you may find that keeping the area moist with water will help to lift the stain."

Baby wipes, recommended by Crayola for more stubborn washable marker stains, may also work on ballpoint ink or permanent marker. And since they're formulated for babies, they're likely to be gentler on your child's skin than some other home remedies you might see on the internet.

Baby oil is commonly used to remove makeup and temporary tattoos, so it makes sense that people recommend it for ink stains, too. According to Healthline, baby oil attaches to "excess oils on the skin and then removes all substances" — including, potentially, permanent marker. The site suggests applying a small amount of oil to the area, and then washing it away.

It sounds strange, but one home remedy mentioned by Good Housekeeping for getting permanent marker off of skin involves soaking a cotton ball in milk and swiping it over the stain. There are mixed reviews about the effectiveness of this method — some say it works best to remove stains on fabric and upholstery — but if you happen to have some milk on hand, it probably can't hurt to try.

Many people say rubbing alcohol is the key to ink stains, but you need to proceed with caution. Rubbing alcohol can be easily inhaled or absorbed into the skin, which puts you at risk for isopropyl alcohol poisoning. Children are especially vulnerable, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses on its HealthyChildren.org website that rubbing alcohol should never be used to bring down a child's fever. If you have a line of permanent marker on your own skin, a very small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball — used in a well-ventilated area! — may be OK, but for kids or marks that cover large portions of the body, you're better off trying something else or just letting the ink fade naturally.