Henna tattoo reactions, scars?

[AsburySkinsFan]

Hey ya'll. So my wife and I escape to Gatlinburg, TN last month, and we decide to do the tourist thing and get temporary henna tattoos, yeah I know real brave right. Anyways, what wasn't told was that the "black henna" that is used for the tattoo is known to cause allergic reactions in some folks, estimates range from 3-15% of people. Well, just my luck, about a week after I got mine, I noticed it starting to itch so I removed it, within a day an exact replica of the henna was on my arm but in an allergic reaction. It's been a month and its still there. I fear permanent scarring from it, thankfully its in the shape of a cross so if it is permanent then at least I can get a real tat to cover it. Personally, I'm alleric to poison ivy, as such my skin is probably more prone to reactions, but I post this so that folks can be fore warned about this potential.

Has anyone else experienced this or even heard of it before?
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/91/orig...enna/wolf.html

Check out these photos of henna reactions.

[SkinsHokieFan]

We do it all the time in our family for weddings

Never seen anything like this

[SkinsNumberOne]

They specifically reference it on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna

According to wikipedia, real henna is safe, but what they refer to as "black henna" is not real henna. They specifically say that "black henna" is known to be used in tourist areas, even though its potential for causing problems is fairly known.

Here is a relevant excerpt though:

Anyone who has an itching and blistering reaction to a black body stain should go to a doctor, and report that they have had an application of para-phenylenediamine to their skin.
PPD sensitivity is lifelong, and once sensitized, the use of synthetic hair dye can be life-threatening [29]. These injuries are not caused by henna, and a person can use henna as hair dye.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Originally Posted by SkinsHokieFan

We do it all the time in our family for weddings

Never seen anything like this

The reactions are with the "black henna" that has a particular chemical added to the henna, its the paraphenylenediamine (PPD) that causes the allergic reactions, the "brown henna" doesn't contain this chemical additive and as such the reactions are FAR less.

Most henna tattoists don't even know that the "black henna" causes this reaction, because many times its tourists who get the tattoos and by the time the reaction starts, they've already travelled home.

[Koolblue13]

If you are over the age of 12 and not doing it for a religious reason, I hear it can give you the gay.

[thehogs]

myself and one of my kids did this on holiday in Tunisia. It did start to burn once it was on. Not badly but certainly stung. It came off pretty quickly too but with no after effects. I 'think' we were conned....

[Burgold]

Asbury,

The top right picture isn't a reaction to the henna. Look closer, on your arm is the mark of the Devil! What were you thinking?

[Raub]

That's just punishment for being a wuss.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Originally Posted by Burgold

Asbury,

The top right picture isn't a reaction to the henna. Look closer, on your arm is the mark of the Devil! What were you thinking?

In all actuality, here's mine.


I guess I could tell people that its a birth mark, and ask them if they think it means anything.

[cjcdaman]

Told ya not to vote for Obama.

[Capt Rich Fla]

Originally Posted by SkinsHokieFan

We do it all the time in our family for weddings

Never seen anything like this

I just spit orange juice all over. Haaaaa, that's classy at a wedding.

[Capt Rich Fla]

Originally Posted by Koolblue13

If you are over the age of 12 and not doing it for a religious reason, I hear it can give you the gay.

LOL, my 4 year old just said, "daddy, what's so funny?"

[RonJeremy]

Originally Posted by Koolblue13

If you are over the age of 12 and not doing it for a religious reason, I hear it can give you the gay.

Originally Posted by Raub

That's just punishment for being a wuss.

This pretty much sums it up.

Close the thread.

[Raub]

Originally Posted by Capt Rich Fla

I just spit orange juice all over. Haaaaa, that's classy at a wedding.

Umm...I'm pretty sure that they do it because it's part of their culture.

[Capt Rich Fla]

Originally Posted by Raub

Umm...I'm pretty sure that they do it because it's part of their culture.

Ohhhh, OK. I got an instant trailor park image in my head when they said that. You know, some skinny chick with red knees, ciggarette and a can of beer, all ****ed up going WOOOOOOOO!