Are henna tatoos bad for you?

Answer 1

A trendy henna "tattoo" could cause you months of pain and discomfort, and even a lifelong allergy to a common chemical found in dyes, doctors are warning.

Numerous cases of people developing severe skin reactions days or weeks after having a temporary tattoo have been reported, says Björn Hausen of the Dermatological Centre in Buxtehude, Germany.

"It was unbelievably itchy," says one sufferer, who developed a rash after getting a tattoo from a vendor on Venice Beach, California. "And it lasted for a long time. It was the worst thing."

But the problem is not the henna dye itself, an extract of the plant Lawsonia intermis, but the chemical para-phenylene diamine (PPD), Hausen's research has shown.

Career restrictions
PPD is often added to henna to make the tattoo darker. In some people, it seems henna containing PPD can cause contact dermatitis, in which the skin becomes swollen, red and itchy.

"It is possible that the mark from the tattoo will remain for several months, which is of course socially quite uncomfortable if it concerns parts of the body which are very visible such as the hands or fingers," says Hausen.

"But above all, these tattoos can cause a hypersensitivity to PPD." Because the chemical is used in several industrial processes, that means adolescents who are affected will be unable to enter a number of professions, he says.

Street vendors
Hausen showed that PPD is to blame by applying both pure henna and PPD to the skin of people who'd had adverse reactions. Only the PPD produced a strong reaction, he found. Other doctors have got similar results when they carried out allergy tests.

Hausen's findings appear in Deutsches ärzteblatt, the journal of the German Medical Association. The association now plans to launch a Europe-wide information campaign to warn people of the risk.

In Europe and the US, however, most parlours use pure henna, which very rarely causes allergies. The risk is greatest when getting tattoos from street vendors and in third world countries where controls are lax.

Painting henna designs on the body is a long-established practice in India--where it is called mehndi--Morocco and Fiji. A mehndi craze sprang up a couple of years ago after Madonna had her hands elaborately decorated for her pop video Frozen. Overnight, henna body art went from an oriental cultural tradition to a global business and tourist pursuit.

Answer 2

Well, there are two types of henna-- one is traditional Indian mehndi, the one that is used to paint on hands at festivals. It's plain crushed, powdered and dried Lawsonis intermis, having no dyes. That mehndi is pretty safe to use, unless you have a specific allergy to it (which is rare) Do a patch test on your inner elbow to be sure.
The second type is Arabian henna, which gives a black tone on drying. It contains dyes, and is extremely toxic. Don't ever use it, it'll spoil your skin. Your best bet is non perfumed, plain henna powder you can buy at any Indian goods selling store downtown.

Answer 3

I've had a henna tattoo before, and I absolutely loved it! They aren't permanent, they look awesome, and they don't hurt you at all.

Answer 4

no, the paste for henna is made out of natural ingredients

Answer 5

nope i got well i had 3 i had 1 on my back arm an neck not at all they wash off 2 so u good.

Answer 6

no it is the best temporary tattoo there is nothing permanent

Answer 7

Not at all... they are fun... go for it!

Answer 8

No, they don't do anything to you.

Answer 9

no

Answer 10

no!!! not at all...