Remedies for Removing Ink From Skin

It's a nightmare to remove ink or ink stains from clothes, but luckily, getting ink, like pen ink or marker stains, off your skin isn't nearly as difficult as other stain removal.

Water-based inks, such as those used in washable markers, fade away with just a bit of soap and scrubbing. Oil-based inks may need a bit more persuasion, though. Common household supplies, such as rubbing alcohol, baby oil and even milk cut through the toughest ink stains in no time at all for a good DIY fix.

Ink stains can happen when using ink from printer toner cartridges or printer ink cartridges, fountain pen or ballpoint pen, markers, sharpie or permanent marker, gel pens, and other objects or machines using ink.

1. Wash the ink stained skin with warm water and gritty hand soap. Use gentle pressure and small, circular motions to scrub the ink stain. If the ink or marker is washable, it should remove the ink stain quickly. Rinse well.
2. Wipe the ink stain with a cloth dipped in makeup remover or baby oil. Baby wipes may also work.
3. Soak a cotton ball in milk, then rub the ink stain with it. The milk helps fade the discoloration and remove ink. You can also remove ink from clothes by soaking the stained area in milk overnight.

4. Dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol or nail-polish remover. Rub the stained skin with the towel until the ink disappears, then wash your hands.
5. Rub a dab of shortening into the ink-stained skin, then wipe the area with a paper towel. Shortening also removes ink from vinyl surfaces.