Why Does Pencil ‘Lead’ Stay Visible So Long In Our Skin?

Dr Karan Rajan explains that pencil injuries can lead to “traumatic tattoos” as graphite shards become embedded in the dermis, similar to the process of getting a real tattoo. The immune system attempts to clear the shards, but larger pieces are encapsulated by macrophages, resulting in a permanent mark. This phenomenon is comparable to the lasting impact of tattoo ink on the skin, as a release-recapture cycle keeps the ink in place despite efforts to remove it.

Full Article