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Henna Tattoo Dangers

Henna tattoo dangers cannot be understated.

Did you get a temporary black henna tattoo this summer? Do you understand henna tattoo dangers? Chances are it was not henna at all and may have already have caused skin damage.

The British Skin Foundation and the Cosmetics Toiletry and Perfumery Association have issued a warning against using BHTT (Black Henna Temporary Tattoo). They have looked at henna tattoo dangers. They found that the ingredient is not henna. The ingredient is safe in hair dye but not for skin contact products.

Henna is a plant powder which turns orange-brown after a few hours. It is never black. If you see black tattoo then be cautious and appreciate henna tattoo dangers. 

What is Black Henna?

Black henna contains para-phenylenediamine (PPD) oxidative dye which is a highly sensitising chemical. It produces delayed hypersensitivity reactions on the skin.  This chemical causes blistering and scarring in the area of the pattern. The reaction appears between five to twenty days after application in about 15% to 50% of people.  

henna tattoo dangers

It can also leave you hyper sensitive to PPD in future (often many years later). The advice is NOT to use synthetic hair dye in the future due to the risk of severe allergic reaction. You fact that you can never dye your hair again highlights the dangers of your henna tattoo. 

Whilst PPD is okay for hair dye it is banned in the EU for skin contact products yet 27% of those affected got their tattoos in the UK. Sadly dermatologists who assisted with the dangers of your henna tattoo stated that 80% were to children under 16 years old.

If you do have an allergic reaction after a henna tattoo then speak to your GP and have a patch test. This will tell you what the ingredient is that you are allergic to and you can then hopefully avoid it in the future.

If you have had a black tattoo in the UK in the last 3 years and been affected by scarring and blistering then we may be able to help you. It is important that you know who gave you the tattoo so that we can find out if they have public liability insurance. We can assist you to bring a claim and get treatment from a plastic surgeon to help with scarring. 

Call 0845 676 9228 today for a confidential chat or contact us via email


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