The slightly longer answer is that most tattoo inks aren’t actually ink at all–they’re pigments suspended in a carrier solution, typically metal salts. The short answer is that tattoo ink has a different chemical composition than markers ink.
Basically, you’re getting a highly concentrated dose of toxic chemicals straight into your blood.įor the sake of argument, you might be wondering: what about tattoo ink? Temporary Sharpie tattoos don’t permeate the skin the way tattoo ink does, so why can people safely get permanent tattoos but not temporary Sharpie tattoos? The biggest concern with Sharpie body art is the absorption of ink through the skin since chemicals that enter the body through broken skin can enter directly into the bloodstream. That’s why be careful and keep these markers away from your skin. Unfortunately, there is no remedy for such irritation. If accidentally this methyl isobutyl ketone fell on your skin it will cause redness, dry skin and even pain. So, just uncap the markers and write on the whiteboard. On the other hand, long-term use can cause nausea, burning in the eyes, enlarged liver, intestinal pain and insomnia. Some whiteboard markers contain a harmful chemical called methyl isobutyl ketone, which irritates the eyes and nose, causes feelings of weakness, dizziness, headaches, vomiting and other problems due to short term uses. Probably not, and you may be shocked to learn that if you use these markers incorrectly it can cause different health issues. However, have you ever thought about the side effects of the ink it contains? And does it have any health risk or not? What About Dry Erase Markers?ĭry erase markers are a day-to-day essential item used in schools, offices, home and by people of all ages. Either way, the company does not recommend using their products for body art of any kind. Keep in mind, however, there may be other harmful chemicals in Sharpies that we haven’t listed here. It also causes different health problems from skin absorption and inhalation. Yet there are some other Sharpies that contain toxic solvents, which is very harmful for your skin. According to the company, markers bearing the ACMI “non-toxic” label are safe for use in art (NOT body art), even by children. The chemical composition of Sharpie products varies, which means some products may theoretically be safe. Is Sharpie (Permanent) Bad for Your Skin? So, writing with markers on skin that contain such chemical ingredients is not recommended at all.
It posses a risk via inhalation, ingestion, absorption across skin and mucous membranes. Xylene is neuro-toxic and may damage other organs. Cresol is also a strong dermal irritant and animal studies showed that liver, kidney, and blood problems could happen as a result of chronic exposure. N-butanol, like most other alcohols, is a flammable, corrosive irritant that is generally viewed as toxic.ĭiacetone alcohol isn’t toxic, but it is a known irritant. The exact chemical composition of Sharpie ink varies between products, but it may contain any of the following:Īccording to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), n-propanol exhibits low acute toxicity from dermal, oral, or inhalation routes of exposure. To understand whether a Sharpie or markers ink is skin safe or not, you first need to understand what ingredients go into a markers. Here’s a quick explanation of why you really shouldn’t draw on your skin with a Sharpie. If you’re looking for skin safe markers, don’t uncap a Sharpie just yet.
Unfortunately, despite Kylie Jenner’s cool Sharpie tattoos, body art is not one of them.īut have you ever wondered whether it’s safe to write on yourself with a permanent marker or whiteboard marker? Even while playing, kids also draw on their skin with it.Īctually, there are tons of fun ways to use permanent markers, from the boring (office work) to the fun (crazy colorful drawings). It’s a very common scenario that we make temporary tattoos or get stained on our skin either intentionally or unintentionally while writing with markers.