How to Remove Nail Polish from Skin

Co-authored by Kristin Pulaski

Last Updated: September 30, 2024 Fact Checked

Did you accidentally get nail polish onto your finger? Or did your child decide to paint their face with your favorite nail polish? Skin can be sensitive to harsh cleaners such as acetone and nail polish remover. Fortunately, there are ways to remove from the skin without using these harsh cleaners. This article will show you how to remove nail polish from the skin using the traditional acetone and nail polish remover. It will also show you a few ways that are gentle enough to use on kids.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Removing Nail Polish from Skin

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1
Get a bottle of acetone or nail polish remover. Keep in mind that these products can be very drying and harsh on the skin. They are not recommended for small children or for those who have very sensitive skin. If this happened to you, click here.^{[1]
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- Non-acetone nail polish remover can work, but it is not as powerful as acetone and will require more work.
- If you want to remove nail polish from around your nails, click here.
For small areas, a cotton ball would work just fine. A towel will work better on larger areas, such as hands, arms, and feet. If you just did your nails, consider using a Q-tip; you can hold the Q-tip by one end, and use the other end to buff the polish away.

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If you just did your nails, any acetone or nail polish remover will destroy your hard work. If you can't find a Q-tip, it might be a good idea to put on a pair of latex or plastic gloves to protect your pretty, painted nails.
4
Dampen the cotton ball or towel with the acetone or nail polish remover. You want the cotton ball or towel to be wet, but not soaking or dripping. If necessary, squeeze out the excess moisture with your fingers.^{[2]
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- If you are using a Q-tip, dip it into the acetone or nail polish remover. Wipe off any excess on the rim of the bottle.
If needed, re-soak the cotton ball or towel. Eventually, the nail polish will come off.^{[3]
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If you have sensitive skin, you may also want to treat the area with some hand cream or lotion. This will help prevent any dryness.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Removing Nail Polish from Sensitive Skin

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Wet nail polish is easier to remove while it is wet. The oils in the baby wipe will also help dissolve the nail polish, making it even easier to remove. It is ideal for young children and sensitive areas, such as the face.
Dampen the corner of a soft towel with some oil, and gently rub the affected area. The oil should help dissolve the nail polish, and make it come off. Remove any oily residue with some warm water and gentle soap.^{[4]
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Do not use non-acetone nail polish remover on the face.
Dampen a cotton ball with some non-acetone nail polish remover and rub the affected area until the polish comes off. Rinse the area with some soap and warm water. Non-acetone nail polish remover is gentler than regular nail polish remover, but it may still leave the skin feeling dry. If this happens, try rubbing some hand lotion or cream over the area once you are done.
Sometimes, soaking in water and a little bit of scrubbing with soap and a wash cloth may be all that's needed to loosen up dried nail polish. Be sure to use warm water, soap, and a mildly-abrasive washcloth or sponge. Gently scrub the area until the nail polish peels off. The warm water should also help it come off. Plan on the bath taking 15 to 20 minutes for best results.
The nail polish will eventually wear off after a few days. Throughout the day, the skin will come in contact with clothing, toys, pillows, and towels. All of this will create friction, which will be enough to help peel the polish off. Young children may also learn from this experience, and not paint their face with nail polish again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Other Items

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Try using rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based product. Rubbing alcohol is not as powerful as acetone or nail polish remover. It won't be as effective and may require more work; however, it is gentler and less drying than acetone or nail polish remover. Simply chose an item from the list below, apply/wipe/spray it to your skin, then wipe it off with a clean cloth or towel. Be sure to wash your skin afterwards with soap and water. Here are some things that you can try:^{[5]
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- Body spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Hair spray
- Perfume
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray-on deodorant
- Anything else that contains rubbing alcohol
2
Use some more nail polish to remove dried polish. Brush on some nail polish onto the affected area and leave it on for a few seconds. Wipe it off using a clean cloth before it dries. The fresh polish will help peel off the old polish. You may still have to wash the area afterwards with some soap and water.
- You can also try using a topcoat.
If the polish is in a small area, you can try scratching at it with your fingernail until it peels off.
4
Use vinegar to wipe off nail polish.
Don't use this method around cuts or scrapes.
White vinegar works best, but you can also use apple cider vinegar instead. Dampen a cotton ball or Q-tip with the vinegar, and wipe it over the nail polish. Keep rubbing until the polish comes off. Wash your skin afterwards with soap and water.^{[6]
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- You can also make the vinegar more acidic by mixing it with lemon juice. Use one part lemon juice and one part vinegar.
- You can also use pure lemon juice.
- This method has had mixed reviews. It works for many people, but not for others.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Removing Nail Polish from Around Nails

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If you just painted your nails, wipe it off using a hard, pointed object, like a cuticle pusher or a toothpick. If the nail polish won't come off, wait until it dries before continuing.
Choose a brush with stiffer bristles, such as a lipstick brush. Make sure that you won't be using this brush for anything else again.
You can also use acetone instead. It is harsher and more drying than nail polish remover, but it works faster.
Try not to get the metal crimp wet, or the glue holding the bristles will melt. This is especially important if you are using acetone.
You can do this by sweeping the bristles across the rim of the bottle. If you have too much nail polish remover on your brush, it may drip onto your nails and ruin your manicure.
Always tilt your finger towards the brush. This will help keep the nail polish remover from dripping onto your manicure. For example, if you got nail polish on the left side of your finger, tilt your finger slightly to the left. If you get too much nail polish remover on your finger, it will drip down the side of your finger instead of onto your manicure.
Fold a tissue in half, and wipe it around the cuticle area of your nail. This will pick up any residual nail polish remover.
8
Know what to do in the future. There are a few things you can do to prevent nail polish from getting on your fingers the next time you paint your nails. The most common are to outline your nails with Vaseline or white school glue. These create a barrier between your skin and the nail polish, making clean up a lot easier.^{[7]
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- Use a Q-tip to apply Vaseline to the skin around your nails before starting your manicure. Once you are done painting your nails, wipe the Vaseline off with another Q-tip.
- Draw a thin line around your nails using white school glue. Let the glue dry, then paint your nails. Peel the dried glue off when you are done with your manicure.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the easiest way to clean nail polish off of skin?

Kristin Pulaski
Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.

Kristin Pulaski

Salon Owner & Nail Specialist

Expert Answer

I'd just dip a cotton swab in acetone and gently brush the polish off of the skin. That's going to be the most straightforward way to fix this.

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Question

How can I keep nail polish from getting on my skin in the first place?

Kristin Pulaski
Salon Owner & Nail Specialist
Kristin Pulaski is a Professional Nail Artist and the Founder of Paintbucket, a self-owned and operated nail salon based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has over five years of experience running Paintbucket and is licensed as a nail technician. Paintbucket offers nail art manicures, pedicures, and soft gel extensions along with customized packages for wedding and bridal parties. She holds a BA in Managerial Science from Manhattan College.

Kristin Pulaski

Salon Owner & Nail Specialist

Expert Answer

Some people place strips of tape around their cuticles to keep their skin totally clean while they're painting their nails. You could try that to totally keep the polish off, but it is going to take a while to set up!

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Question

What can I use if I have a cut near where I have to take off the nail polish?

Community Answer

Try taking a nice, long bath, about 15 to 20 minutes. You can try scrubbing at the area with some soap and a loofa or a face/body buffing sponge. You could also try wiping it off with some baby oil or olive oil. Do not use any nail polish remover, not even a non-acetone one. It will sting.

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Tips

Not every method is going to work for everyone. Your skin type, and even the type of nail polish you used, will all have an effect.

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Nail polish will eventually wear off on its own after a few days. If you are not in a hurry or embarrassed about having nail polish on your skin, this is an option.

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You can use a blemish control toner, and soak your nails in it.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If the polish is fresh, take a shower or bath until your skin starts to prune. All that water and all those wrinkles will make it flake off more easily.
Try using nail polish guides, or tape the edges of your nails, to avoid painting your cuticles.

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Warnings

Never use acetone or nail polish remover around the face. Try using baby oil, or other food-grade oils instead.

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Acetone and nail polish remover can be very drying. Do not use this if you have sensitive skin, or on your child's skin. If you must use acetone or nail polish remover, be sure to moisturize the area afterward with some hand cream or lotion.

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