# Pens for skin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084 "2009-09-14T20:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/1 "2009-09-14T20:47:58Z")
So, I know these exist…but where? Way back in high school one of the girls in my class had a pen with ink that was designed to write on skin safely and be easily washable. She had a fun time playing with it, as you might imagine. Recently I’ve tried to track these pens down. Anyone know what these might be called, what company might make them, or where I might be able to buy them? Closest google brought me was surgical supply stuff. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/2 "2009-09-14T20:59:27Z")
How about markers? [http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957](http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957) ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/3 "2009-09-14T21:04:03Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > How about markers? > [http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957](http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957) Yup, that’s what we use. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/4 "2009-09-14T21:21:48Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > How about markers? > [http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957](http://www.officesupplynow.com/xcart/product.php?productid=69957) Those look excellent (oh the problems of starting with the wrong keywords). Know of any brick and mortar stores that might carry them? Michael’s doesn’t seem to. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/5 "2009-09-14T21:22:59Z")
I would expect that to be the kind of thing you’d find at Target, Walmart, or Toys r us. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/6 "2009-09-14T21:25:01Z")
I drew all over my wrists and hands with Sharpies when I was in high school. Not hugely washable, but it would wear off in a day or two. People often tried to tell me I would get “ink poisoning,” but while IANAD, I’m about 99.9% sure that’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/7 "2009-09-14T21:27:25Z")
Office Depot has them. > **[Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Color Markers Broad Tip Assorted Classic Colors...](https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/502336/Crayola-Ultra-Clean-Washable-Color-Markers/)** > > Wash off skin and clothes easily without sacrificing color intensity ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/8 "2009-09-14T21:33:42Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > People often tried to tell me I would get “ink poisoning,” but while IANAD, I’m about 99.9% sure that’s bullshit. Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know why you’d be so sure of its safety, though. > [@](#): > > They are considered non-toxic for “normal uses,” meaning writing on posters, soccer balls, and such. However, they are not meant for use on skin or fingernails. It might take over an ounce of ink from a Sharpie to cause a lethal reaction, and if a Sharpie is used on the skin it generally won’t cause an immediate or obvious health effect. However, according to the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), various **Sharpies contain: n-propanol, n-butanol, diacetone alcohol, and cresol. The first of these, n-propanol, is commonly used in cosmetics. The other three, however, are industrial solvents, chemicals that should not be sniffed, eaten, or put on the skin. As solvents, they penetrate the skin and fingernails and can enter the bloodstream.** > **[Sharpie (marker)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpie_%28marker%29)** > > Sharpie is a brand of writing implement (mainly permanent markers) manufactured by Newell Brands, a public company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally designating a single permanent marker, the Sharpie brand has been widely expanded and can now be found on a variety of previously unrelated permanent and non-permanent pens and markers formerly marketed under other brands. > Sharpie markers are made with several tips, including ultra fine, extra fine, fine, brush, chisel, mini, magnum, ... ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/9 "2009-09-15T00:57:30Z")
This topic would be completely different with a few extra letters in the title.:eek: > [@](#): > > I drew all over my wrists and hands with Sharpies when I was in high school. Not hugely washable, but it would wear off in a day or two. People often tried to tell me I would get “ink poisoning,” but while IANAD, I’m about 99.9% sure that’s bullshit. We had people like that, but it was “lead poisoning” anytime someone accidentally got a pencil “lead” stuck in them. Which actually happened a bit more often than you’d think, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/10 "2009-09-15T00:59:21Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > This topic would be completely different with a few extra letters in the title.:eek: Thanks, JDT — err, TBG 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/11 "2009-09-15T01:02:18Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > We had people like that, but it was “lead poisoning” anytime someone accidentally got a pencil “lead” stuck in them. Which actually happened a bit more often than you’d think, for some reason. I had to stop a doctor from looking up info on lead poisoning when a dog that had eaten a pencil was brought to the ER. I had point out they are made of carbon. He wasn’t a very smart doctor. He didn’t work there for very long. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/12 "2009-09-15T01:45:34Z")
Crayola Washable Markers look like a regular marker, write on skin just the same and wash off easily. That may be easier than Erasable markers. I have a 3 year old who loves drawing on herself. I know these things. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/13 "2009-09-15T02:57:40Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > Crayola Washable Markers look like a regular marker, write on skin just the same and wash off easily. That may be easier than Erasable markers. > > I have a 3 year old who loves drawing on herself. I know these things. I couldn’t seem to find Erasable around here, but i saw Washable several times. Thanks! This is going to end in a great deal of silly, but at least it’ll be easy to clean up 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/14 "2009-09-15T15:33:16Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know why you’d be so sure of its safety, though. Probably because I was drawing designs on my wrists and hands, not coating my body in the stuff. I highly doubt I was using anywhere near enough ink to approach the recommended limits. ---
**Author:** ![SurveyorAlpha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@SurveyorAlpha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurveyorAlpha)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/15 "2009-09-15T20:33:33Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > This topic would be completely different with a few extra letters in the title. That alternate title is all I can see when scrolling through GQ. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/16 "2009-09-15T20:48:34Z")
TheKid has taken to covering her hands in delicate scrollwork when she’s bored. Not just a small design, both hands from fingertip to wrist. She’s found that gel pens, as found at Michaels in a multitude of colors, gives nice lines on the skin and washes off well. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/17 "2009-09-15T21:18:57Z")
> [@SurveyorAlpha](#): > > That alternate title is all I can see when scrolling through GQ. It’s what I keep reading in my email update alerts, too, and I keep trying to remember what the hell the thread was about, until I manage to stop seeing the nonexistant “i.” ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/18 "2009-09-16T23:03:48Z")
Depending on the desired effect, you may also want to give eyeliner pencils a try, either the traditional kind that are like a pastel in consistency, or the ones that are liquid-based with a felt tip. They’re obviously safe to put on your body, come in every color including some cool metallics and florescents, and you can get quite detailed with them. Mainly I’d go this route if you wanted to avoid the wicking that sharpies and washable markers have (you know, when your fingerprints or ridges in the skin sort of irrigate the ink and it spiderwebs out from where you wrote), or if you want to be sure your work is relatively water/sweat proof (just use make-up remover or vaseline to remove it). If you don’t care about the water/sweat proof bit, I’d go with the gel pens mentioned earlier, or v5 Pilots (minimal wicking, extremely fine lines). ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-for-skin/510084/19 "2009-09-17T15:44:51Z")
> [@Orange\_Skinner](#): > > Depending on the desired effect, you may also want to give eyeliner pencils a try, either the traditional kind that are like a pastel in consistency, or the ones that are liquid-based with a felt tip. That’s an awesome idea.