In this episode of Life by A Thousand Cuts, A/Prof Tony Dicker takes a closer look at surgical marking pens, exploring how the simple act of drawing a line can influence outcomes.

Anyone who has carefully mapped a surgical plan only to see it vanish after prepping the skin, knows the frustration. In this podcast, A/Prof Dicker dives into the evidence behind different pens, from gentian violet markers to permanent markers and even the humble biro, and how antiseptic agents like chlorhexidine, Betadine, and alcohol impact their durability.

He also delves into infection risk, cross-contamination, and the rare but real possibility of ink tattooing if markings are incised. Studies comparing pen performance across skin types and prep solutions offer valuable insights.

A/Prof Dicker also shares his own preferences: permanent markers with a mid-sized tip for clear, reliable lines, applied after cleaning intact skin with alcohol wipes. He stresses the importance of tailoring pen choice to both the surgical setting and patient factors, especially skin tone.

Watch this episode here.

This podcast series is designed to help you enhance your clinical decision-making, procedural skills, and confidence in skin cancer management. Focus on real-world cases, surgical techniques and tips, journal article reviews, diagnostic and management insights, and guest interviews with GPs and specialists.

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