The American Academy of Dermatology is warning consumers about the dangers of “black” henna. As henna body art has become mainstream many artists are mixing PPD (para-phenylenediamine), a chemical used in black hair dyes, to intensify the natural color of henna and to prolong the longevity of the temporary tattoos from days to weeks. Traditional henna dyes are made from plants, which are safe. But PPD-impregnated henna can cause allergic skin reactions that result in blistering, skin discoloration, and even scarring that can be permanent. If you are considering getting a henna tattoo but cannot verify that the henna dye is made completely from natural plant material, don’t get one. If you think you are having an allergic reaction to a tattoo, see your physician for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Full story.
Tags: allergic reaction, blister, dye, henna, scarring, tattoo
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 am
It’s very easy to tell the difference between safe natural henna and chemically adulterated henna. When the paste is removed from the skin the color will be initially orange with natural henna and take about 2 days to deepen into brown. With the poison stuff, it will be black or brown right away. Please spread the word!
The article above does have 2 little errors. Natural henna only dyes in shades of orange, red and brown, not green. The prepared paste is green, but it will not color anything green. Also, natural henna can last several weeks just like the chemically adulterated stuff. The difference is in the color and safety alone.
Jen
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
Thanks, Jen, for the clarification. That is very good information regarding how to differentiate real henna from chemically altered henna. Thanks!