On the shores of beaches and markets around the world, vacationers are often offered henna tattoos. However, you should know that some of them are dangerous.
The French Agency for the Safety of Health Products (Afssaps) regularly recalls the specific risk associated with temporary black henna tattoos. For about four years, French dermatologists and allergists have reported to Afssaps cases of eczema occurring a few days to a few weeks after the application of these ephemeral tattoos.
The risk is linked to phenylenediamine (PPD), a substance illicit in France and contained in black henna. PPD is added to henna to give it its black color. The Afssaps therefore advises against the application of such tattoos because of the risk of allergies. In the absence of information on the origin of its coloring, the black henna tattoo should be avoided. We must prefer the natural henna tattoo, brown-orange in color.
If in doubt, it is advisable to report any skin reaction following the creation of a temporary henna tattoo to a healthcare professional. Some cases of eczema following the application of black henna cause violent reactions, “sometimes requiring urgent medical intervention or even hospitalization”.
