Sharpie Paint Pens are perfect for creating bright, colorful works. The oil-based ink inside the pen is waterproof and lasts a very long time. However, if you’re using them often, you’ll probably want to know if they’re toxic or not!
So, are Sharpie Paint Pens toxic? Sharpie paint pens technically aren’t toxic, but they aren’t food-safe either. That means you won’t want to ingest the paint while using them. The ink won’t harm you in a small amount. However, it’s best to be safe and avoid eating them! You can still feel sick from eating any art materials.
Sharpie didn’t make these pens for consumption or use on the skin, so you’ll want to avoid frequent contact with the ink. As long as you only use the pens for their intended purpose, they’re completely safe. If you want to learn more, I recommend you keep reading!
How Toxic Are Sharpie Paint Pens?
Sharpie Paint Pens aren’t toxic. The brand marks them as non-toxic on their packaging, and they don’t contain xylene, a toxic chemical. However, you still don’t want to use them to write on your skin. You also should keep them far out of the reach of young children.
Ingesting the ink can still make you feel sick, although you wouldn’t have severe symptoms of anything. If you suspect that someone in your home has poisoning symptoms, you’ll need to contact a poison control center.
You can reach out to one by visiting the National Capital Poison Center online or calling 1-800-222-1222. The center recommends drinking water if you suspect poisoning.
Overall, Sharpies aren’t very toxic. You would need to be exposed to large amounts of ink to experience poisoning. It’s still always a good idea to know who to reach out to just in case, though!
Which Sharpies Are Non-Toxic?
Most types of Sharpie pens are non-toxic. You’ll want to check whether or not they contain the ingredient xylene, a neurotoxic chemical. Products with xylene can irritate your skin or even cause some damage to organs when ingested.
A few different Sharpie products contain xylene, including the King Size Sharpie, the Magnum Sharpie, and the Touch-Up Sharpie. However, Sharpie has stated that their paint pens don’t contain xylene, making them non-toxic.
A majority of Sharpies are non-toxic. So, if you have the Sharpie Fine Point markers at home, you won’t have to worry about them. It’s still best that you don’t write on yourself or others with these products.
Overall, it’s a good idea to wash your hands after using any Sharpie marker. If you have some ink on you that doesn’t want to come off with soap and water, you can dab a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and apply it to the skin. Make sure to always rewash your hands after- you don’t want to leave the rubbing alcohol there for long!
Are Sharpie Paint Pens Oil Based?
Sharpie Paint Pens are an oil-based medium. That means they are waterproof and contain oil instead of water as their main ingredients. Because of this, you can get vibrant, long-lasting results with your artwork!
Many people choose Sharpies for their professional results and their lower price tag. Plus, the oil-based ink comes with several benefits.
Oil-based pens also don’t clog as often, write and draw smoothly, and come in various colors. However, oil-based products tend to be more toxic than acrylics overall. Still, it’s unlikely that you would expose yourself to enough of the ink for it to poison you.
Are Sharpie Paint Pens Washable?
Sharpie Paint Pens won’t come out in the wash, as long as you make sure to heat-set your design first! Start by placing a scrap fabric over your design, then iron it for five minutes on a medium heat setting. You can also throw your design in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to set the ink into various fabrics.
Finally, you’ll want to apply a clear coating of fabric paint. This step ensures you can wash your fabric without your art fading or bleeding.
If you have Sharpie on your skin, it can be very tough to wash off! You may need to use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to break down the ink first. Overall, Sharpies are waterproof and made to last on any surface!
Are Sharpie Paint Pens Safe for Kids?
Sharpie Paint Pens are safe for older kids to use. You don’t want any young children who could put them in their mouths using them.
Older kids have no problems drawing with Sharpie Paint Pens safely. You may still want to make sure they wash their hands afterward. Young kids may also use the paint pens to write on other surfaces (like your couch) when you’re not looking. It’s tough to get the ink off, so it’s safer to avoid letting kids have the pens.
Overall, you only want to give young kids markers that are safe for them to use. For example, Crayola markers are non-toxic and easy to clean off most surfaces.
Are Sharpie Paint Pens Safe for Skin?
In general, you want to avoid getting ink containing chemicals on your skin. Your skin could absorb them. In high amounts, this could make you feel sick.
However, most Sharpies aren’t toxic, making them safe for use on your skin- but you still shouldn’t draw on yourself with them! If you want to make custom tattoos, special tattoo pens exist for that purpose.
Sharpie Paint Pens exist for fabrics and paper, not your skin! The manufacturers don’t intend for those uses. So, there could be chemicals in there you don’t want your body to absorb, even if the paint pens are technically non-toxic.
Final Thoughts
In short, Sharpie Paint Pens aren’t toxic. The brand says they’re non-toxic and don’t contain xylene, a harmful ingredient often found in art pens.
That said, you still don’t want to ingest the ink or use the pens to write on yourself. They’re incredibly safe when you use them for their intended purpose- writing or drawing on fabrics and other materials.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your Sharpie project turns out great! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!
