An adventure that turns into a nightmare
A seven-year-old girl recently suffered burns after being tattooed with black henna while her family was on vacation in Egypt. Madison Gulliver asked her father if she could get her arm temporarily tattooed in a four-star hotel. Shortly after the tattoo was finished, she began to complain about itching. Shortly after, painful blisters covered her arm.
Madison was taken to a burn unit where she had to remove the blisters. The operation left scars on her arm.
It turns out that black henna tattoos can contain high levels of toxic chemical dye, including an ingredient called paraphenylenediamine or PPD. This chemical is normally illegal to use on the skin.
The tattoo of the little girl was done in the beauty center of the hotel which reassured at the beginning the parents of Madison who did not imagine that it was going to be as dangerous. Indeed, Madison quickly had blisters with her finger at her elbow and suffered horribly. Dad is deeply concerned about seeing the condition of her daughter but he also wants a beauty salon that uses dangerous chemicals.
Following this misadventure, the family shares their story to get their message across so that the same thing does not happen to other children. Mr. Gulliver, Madison's dad, was so pleased with his excellent trip and proud of the behavior of his two children that he wanted to reward them with a temporary henna tattoo.
Madison's brother, Sebastian, nine, instantly complained of itching, so the pattern left her arm with friction. But when the skin under Madison's tattoo began to burn, the family took her to the emergency room.
Physicians found high levels of PPD in Madison blisters, indicating a chemical burn. They removed the blisters to help treat burnt skin underneath. After the procedure, Madison was sent to a wound healing unit. She must wear a compressive dressing for at least six months to minimize the scars that currently cover her arm.
Dr. Chris Flower, Executive Director of the Association of Cosmetics, and Perfumery, warned the public against black henna tattoos. He explained: "PPD is used legally and safely in permanent hair dyes for which clear instructions are given and where the maximum level is controlled by law. But black henna often contains PPD at high levels, to give a dark color quickly. When applied to the skin in the form of a temporary tattoo, PPD can cause chemical burns and cause allergic reactions. "
It is always important to check the color if a product is described as being henna. Indeed, natural henna is a healthy product that gives a red-orange color and not black. So if you are offered a temporary tattoo with black henna, do not do it to preserve your health.