The dangers of some henna tattoos
Today in our morning meeting one of my friend’s, she’s also a producer, told us about something horrible that had happened to her little niece. They were on vacation and she wanted a henna tattoo. I remember getting them when I was a little girl; they’re like tattoos but fade in a week or two. Anyways, her mother said yes and the little girl got one. But days later she had a horrible skin reaction on her arm. Her parents took her to the doctor’s office and the doctor said she had a allergic reaction. Scary stuff!
I started looking for information online and found an article from Medline Plus ... a site that works with the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. I thought the information would be good for all parents to know. According to the article, black henna tattoos contain a chemical called para-phenylenediamine (PPD) that can cause serious skin reactions. I found that it’s added to natural henna to increase the intensity and longevity of the tattoo. A disturbing finding is that more and more doctors are seeing kids come into their offices with a skin reaction. I called the Columbus Health Department and officials told me they have not received any complaints.
If you’re a parent here’s what you need to know, black dye is something you’ll probably want to avoid. Dr. Edward Bope from Riverside Methodist Hospital says avoid blue, yellow, green and purple dye too ... those colors are not made out of henna. If it smells scary, stay away from it. Traditional henna is orange, red, burgundy, brown or coffee ... those are safe. Some of the side effects include mild eczema, blistering and even permanent scarring. Look for redness and itching, bumps, swelling and blistering. The American Academy of Dermatology says topical steroids can stop the allergic reaction. Doctor Sharon Jacob, from the University of California, San Diego says, “Each exposure to PPD re-challenges the immune system, so each time you get a black henna tattoo there is an increased risk of having a reaction.“
So if you’re little one is begging for a henna tattoo it’s recommended you get a vegetable one, not a PPD-adulterated henna. Jacob says, “Unless the artist can tell you exactly what’s in the tattoo, don’t get one.“
P.S. My friend’s niece is going to be okay, the doctor said since she’s so young it will fade with time. Thank goodness!
