# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DPSPzr_klQn
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35222621-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/417fa653c6.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-10-01T23:30:17.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

Essentially, it’s an unintentional stick-and-poke tattoo. It’s also not harmful, since pencils these days are made with graphite, not lead.⁠
The only potential risk from a pencil stab is the wound caused by the stabbing itself.⁠
“A pencil is a dirty object, so you’re puncturing the skin with a dirty object, so you could potentially get a bacterial infection,” said Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.⁠
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Like a regular tattoo, a pencil tattoo will fade a bit over time, but it can still be noticeable for decades. Also, like a tattoo, Rokhsar said the mark can be removed with laser treatment or cut out.⁠
With that mystery solved, the only question remaining is why so many kids are stabbing each other with pencils.⁠
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#pencil #mark #graphite #particles #biology #science

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,589
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- **Comments:** 87

## Tags

science, mark, pencil, particles, graphite, biology

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