How to Remove Paint from Skin

Co-authored by James Guth

Last Updated: June 13, 2024 References

Whether you're painting a wall or painting a picture, there will be the inevitable moment where you manage to paint your skin as well. Regular paint removers, however, are extremely toxic and should not be used on skin. Luckily, there is a variety of methods for cleaning different paints that use household ingredients.

Things You Should Know

Use soapy water, baby oil, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover to get paint off of your skin.
Wash off particularly stubborn paint stains with vegetable oil.
Try rubbing your skin with a sugar scrub if the paint still won't come off.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Oil and Rubbing Alcohol

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1
Scrub lightly with soap and water to remove big chunks of paint. Simply wash off as much as you can, working lightly. Don't worry if some of it doesn't come off at first -- this is just to help you use less oil later on. Always start with soap and water -- many water and latex paints will come completely free with simple hand washing. ^{[1]
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- The earlier you can get to the paint, the better. Once it has dried it will be a little trickier to remove.
2
Cover the painted area in a light layer of mineral or baby oil. Mineral oil is the best cleaner since it works effectively on both oil, water, and latex-based paints. Pour just enough on your skin to cover the entire painted area. Lightly rub it on, then leave it for 2-3 minutes to soak in. ^{[2]
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- Any vegetable oil will work here, in a pinch, including coconut, flax seed, olive, etc.
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Using your fingertips, rub the baby oil into the painted part of your skin, and gently scratch off as much of the paint as you can. You can just use your hands, working in small circles to massage the oil into the paint and remove it.
If you have an old washcloth, you could use this as well, though it may get stained. You just want something a little rougher to scrub your skin. Scrub lightly in circles to remove tricky bits of paint.
5
Try rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover if you're still struggling. Saturate the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and use it to get at any stains that don't respond well to the mineral oil. Some people have had success with make-up remover as well. ^{[3]
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- Alcohol will dry your skin out if left for too long. Use a moisturizer once you're done to prevent cracking or flaking. ^{[4]
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6
Rinse off your hands with soap and water. Once you've got everything off, use soap and water to remove the oil and smell of alcohol.
- If you still can't get the paint off, you're likely using a stronger oil-based paint. You can attack it directly using other oils and cleansers.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Vegetable or Cooking Oils

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Create a thick lather on the skin, then rinse the lather away. This will remove some of the paint from your skin and make it easier for the oil to get in and lift the paint away.
2
Use a cooking or essential oil to pull away the paint. Simply coat the affected area in the oil and let it sit before scrubbing. You can use a variety of oils as they all have the same cleaning properties. More likely than not, you'll want to use what you have around the house, including:
- Vegetable
- Coconut
- Olive
- Essential oils, such as lavender or rosemary
Use a washcloth or your hands to rub the skin with oil. Rinse the skin to see if all the paint is removed, then add more oil if the skin is still stained.
Make a salt scrub for an exfoliating, more powerful cleaner. Mix equal parts salt and oil, then scrub the mixture onto the paint to remove it. Any oil will do. However, it is best to use the biggest grain of salt you can get, usually "coarse" or kosher salt will do, since that provides a better scrub. ^{[5]
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After rinsing your skin with warm water, you may want to shower to remove any unpleasant stickiness remaining.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

All-Natural Cleaners and Remedies

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Liberally apply the soap and see how much paint you can get off with your hands or a washcloth. Rinse and repeat if the lather becomes darkly colored, like the paint you were removing. ^{[6]
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Mix in 1/2 a cup of coconut oil (though vegetable will work too), along with 1/2 a cup of baking soda. Mix them together well, then use an old toothbrush to scrub away the paint with the concoction. No added chemicals needed. ^{[7]
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Use mayonnaise to get at tricky oil-based paints. Mayo will naturally pull off paint, especially if it is oil based. Place a dollop on the skin and rub it into a thin layer over the paint. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes before scrubbing with soap, water, and a washcloth. ^{[8]
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Vick's actually contains turpentine oil, but in much lower, and safer, quantities. ^{[9]
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Research source} Cover the paint in a layer of the oil and let it sit for a few minutes. Then scrub it clean with a washcloth, soap, and water.
5
Try a sugar scrub for an exfoliating, moisturizing wash. Simply wet your hands and the affected area, then place roughly a tablespoon of plain white sugar on it. Rub it into the skin, using it to scrub gently at the paint to leave your hands smooth and clean. ^{[10]
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- This can be an effective way to clean your skin after using harsher methods, such as oil or Vick's.
6
Try professional paint wipes. If you're always in the studio, and you're always covered in paint, it might be a good time to invest in some painting wipes. Specifically designed to remove paint without harming your skin, the following brands are biodegradable, natural and almost always effective:
- GoJo
- Fast Orange
- Big Wipes
- SoHo Urban Wipes

Community Q&A

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Question

What if I don't have any type of oil?

Community Answer

You will likely have to buy some as oil works best.

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Question

What if I tried all of these methods and nothing worked?

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I suggest trying to find 99% alcohol. It's a higher concentration than regular rubbing alcohol.

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Question

How can I get ink from a permanent marker off?

Community Answer

It takes time, soap and water. It won't come off the first day, but in two or three days, it should be off.

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Tips

You may want to shower after rubbing oil on your skin, since oil can leave a sticky residue.

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Warnings

Avoid rubbing or scrubbing skin too harshly. Take a break and try again later if it feels unpleasant.

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Emulsion paints are water soluble and can be easily washed off with soap and water.

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If you use solvents such as paint thinner, wash immediately with soap and water because it can irritate your skin. You should also not inhale the fumes, as you could be poisoned.

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Things You'll Need

Cotton balls
Baby oil
Vegetable oil
Essential oil
Liquid soap
Rubbing alcohol
Washcloth
Nail polish remover

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How to Remove Paint from Skin

Things You Should Know

Steps

Using Oil and Rubbing Alcohol

Using Vegetable or Cooking Oils

All-Natural Cleaners and Remedies

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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References

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