Don’t Drink the Ink

What is pen ink made of?

While pen ink contains many ingredients, the 3 main ingredients are a solvent (such as glycols or glycol ethers), resin, and a pigment or dye for color. Other possible ingredients include alcohols (such as benzyl alcohol), lubricants, carbon, aniline, dextrin, glycerin, and fluorescents.

What happens if you eat ink from a pen?

The amount of ink in a pen is small (usually 0.7-1.2 mL). Therefore, eating the ink from a pen should not cause toxicity. It will stain your mouth and tongue and may cause a mild upset stomach. Fountain pen cartridges may hold up to 2.5 mL, while bottles of ink for calligraphy vary in size but are usually around 30 mL (or 1 oz.). Ingredients may differ between products. While risk of toxicity from swallowing these products may be higher because of the larger volume of ink involved, the risk is still relatively low for most ink formulations.

Is pen ink toxic for skin? Does pen ink cause skin cancer?

Pen ink is considered non-toxic on the skin, but may stain it. Pressing the point of the pen into your skin could result in an infection. Ink does not cause skin cancer.

Is pen ink safe for stick-and-poke tattoos? Does pen ink go into your bloodstream?

Stick-and-poke tattooing involves dipping a needle in ink and then pricking the skin with dots of ink one at a time. If it is done by a trained tattoo artist under hygienic conditions, it should be safe, and the ink will not enter your bloodstream. If you or an untrained friend do it, there is a higher risk of pain and infection. 

What should I do if I get pen ink in my mouth, eye, or wound?

If you get ink in your mouth, wipe your mouth out with a damp cloth and rinse with water. It may take time for the ink to fade. If it is on your skin or in a wound, you can initially try washing it with soap and water. If this is ineffective, you can gently scrub with rubbing alcohol (that is, isopropyl alcohol). If you get ink in your eye, rinse with water for 15 minutes. Do not use rubbing alcohol in your eyes. 

If someone swallows ink, gets ink in the eyes or on the skin, or if you have a question about using ink safely, help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Wendy Klein-Schwartz, Pharm.D., MPH
Clinical Toxicologist 

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