Is Pen Ink Bad For Your Skin? Check Out The Main Problem

Seeing people write on their skin will make you ask, is pen ink bad for your skin? Pen ink is for writing on a piece of paper, not skin. So, does it contain one or more ingredients that can harm one’s skin?

The skin is a delicate organ, and the largest in the human body. It has pores, which helps in excreting waste products such as sweat. 

There’s a chance the ink could enter the skin and become a health concern. Or rather, that’s what many think. 

We’ll look at the dangers of writing or drawing with pen ink on your skin. Can it cause skin cancer or damage your skin? Is pen ink toxic? Read for more eye-opening details on this topic. 

Is Pen Ink Bad For Your Skin

Yes and no! Here’s why we gave both answers. The component in the pen ink determines if the ink is safe for your skin or not. 

Different types of pen inks exist. In addition, the ingredient that makes up the ink varies from one pen to another. So, the component in the pen ink determines if it would be safe for your skin. 

For example, the ballpoint pen is non-toxic and may not be bad for your skin. Nothing will happen to your skin if a large quantity of this ink pours on it too.

What could make ink bad for your skin? Pen ink could be harmful when you use ink that contains toxic ingredients. 

Thus, it’s advisable to stay away from permanent markers or pens that contain the following ingredients:

• Lead
• Toluene 
• Xylene 
• Formaldehyde

Avoid any ink that contains alcohol, dyes, or other chemicals that might be too harsh for the skin. 

A Handy Tip: Even if you want to write on your skin with a pen, clean the area before and after writing. Why? The reason is to prevent any infection. 

What Is Pen Ink?

Pen ink is a form of fluid or paste available in different colors and used for various purposes. Inks are used for writing, printing, and drawing. 

An ink’s use depends on the ink in question. For example, a ballpoint pen contains ink used majorly for writing. The constituents of inks vary from one ink to another. 

In ink, you’ll find ingredients like dyes, surfactants, lubricants, resins, solvents, and other chemicals. 

Is Using Pen Ink On The Skin Advisable?

No, writing or pouring pen ink on the skin isn’t advisable. And this applies to non-toxic ink. 

Drawing on the skin with non-toxic ink might not cause harm to your skin. But, if you have sensitive skin, you might regret allowing pen ink to touch your skin. 

Pen ink might irritate people with sensitive skin, though this might calm down in many hours or days. 

If the pen’s edge is sharp, there’s a chance that it might hurt your skin. Some people may experience redness after using pens with sharp edges to write or draw on their skin. 

The bottom line is to ensure pen ink doesn’t touch your skin. It doesn’t matter the type of ink in your disposal. Pen ink is made for writing on paper and other materials, not on skin. 

Another reason to avoid using pen ink on your skin is the possibility of allowing ink with toxic ingredients to touch your skin. Most people may forget to check the constituents of pen ink before using them. 

Can Pen Ink Cause Skin Cancer When Used Long Term?

There’s no evidence to substantiate the claim that long-term use of pen ink can cause skin. Long-term use of non-toxic pens such as ballpoint pens may not cause skin cancer or any skin problem. Nevertheless, avoid using pen ink on your skin. 

The ingredients in ink vary from one type of pen to another. Some ink contains ingredients like lead, and allowing such ink to touch your skin can be dangerous. It can cause lead poisoning following prolonged usage. 

There hasn’t been any study linking pen ink to skin cancer. However, people with sensitive skin can suffer mild or severe irritation when exposed to pen ink. 

What Health Challenge Can Pen Ink Cause

Basic pens contain non-toxic ink. Thus, the only issue you may experience when writing on your skin with these pens is getting stained. Stains from pen ink can be difficult to remove, though not impossible. 

The only time ink from basic pens might pose a health challenge is when you or a child ingests the ink. Ingesting pen ink might cause ink poison, leading to the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain

In extreme cases, ink poisoning can cause seizures and prove fatal, though the chances of these happening are rare.

Can You Use Pen Ink For Tattoos On Your Skin?  

Yes, you can use pen ink to draw a tattoo. The question should be, should you? Is it advisable to draw tattoos with pen ink on the skin?

Pen ink (from basic pens) won’t harm your skin when used in small doses. However, using such pen ink to draw a tattoo on your skin is not advisable. 

You have to inject a large volume of ink onto your skin when drawing tattoos. You would also want what you’re drawing or writing on the skin to remain there permanently or for a few weeks. 

In this case, there’s a possibility you might want a pen with a sharp edge, not minding the pain it might cause you. All these make drawing tattoos on the skin with pen ink a terrible idea. 

What’s the big danger DIY tattoo with pen ink can cause? You might suffer from a skin infection. There’s a chance the pen could crack your skin, giving room for infection. Pens with sharp edges usually cause this. 

What’s the best option to draw a tattoo on your skin? That option would not include pen ink. The same goes for permanent markers, highlighters, and gel ink.   

The best option is to get a tattoo. You can buy tattoo ink from Amazon, but this isn’t a good idea. Avoid drawing tattoos on your skin if you lack the experience and skill.

There’s a reason tattoos are expensive. Professionals drawing tattoos have gone through years of practice and are super careful when drawing tattoos for clients. 

The after-care of tattoos is also crucial, as there’s a possibility of skin infection if you don’t take good care of the tattooed skin.   

The best advice is to get your tattoos done by a professional. If you don’t have the money, don’t be in a rush. Continue saving money until you have enough to draw a tattoo. 

Can You Remove Pen Ink Stain From The Skin?

Yes, you can. Pen stains aren’t challenging to clear off entirely from the skin. Why? The ink, especially from the ballpoint, comprises a dye. 

Note that pen ink might be tricky to remove when using only water. A combination of soap and water can get the stain off quickly. 

Here are items you can use to remove pen ink stains on your skin faster:

• Water and soap
• Lotion
• Hand sanitizer
• Exfoliating scrub
• Nail polish remover
• Rubbing alcohol (oil-based)
• Makeup remover (oil-based) 

Tips For Pen Ink Stain Removal From Your Skin

Take note of the following when removing pen ink stains from your skin.

• Don’t use harsh chemicals on your skin, all in the name of removing pen ink. You could harm your skin in the process while removing ink stains. Use soap, water, or other items listed above, and you’ll be fine. 
• Ensure rubbing alcohol or makeup remover used is oil-based. 
• If you’re using a solvent to remove the pen ink stain from your skin, ensure you’re in a well-ventilated area. 
• Use an exfoliating scrub if the ink stain is from a semi-permanent marker or tattoo pen. 

Conclusion

So, is pen ink bad for your skin? It depends on the constituent of the ink. Some inks might contain ingredients like lead, which can be injurious when used long-term. 

Using ink containing lead on your skin will cause lead poisoning over time. There’s also a possibility that your skin could crack if the pen’s edge is a shark. 

The ink from the pen, like a ballpoint pen, is non-toxic. However, if you have sensitive skin, you could suffer irritation. So, the best thing is to avoid pen ink. Pen ink is for writing on paper and not drawing on the skin.