Can a Black Henna Tattoo Really Be Life Threatening?
Considering getting a black henna tattoo? Don't
, they can be very dangerous.
A black henna tattoo is not the same as a pure henna one. Pure henna is 100% natural and safe. Dry leaves of the henna plant are ground up into a powder, the powder is combined with a liquid to make a paste, the paste is applied to the skin as a pattern or design. The paste dries on the skin for many hours and then flakes off or is removed leaving a reddish brown stain. The stain may last a week up to a couple months depending on the application and how it is maintained.
However, black henna is very different. It's henna mixed with a chemical called p-phenylenediamine (PPD). PPD is used to make the stain look more like a permanent tattoo and have a dark black color. The chemical also makes the stain dry significantly faster.
PPD can cause an allergic reaction ranging from itchy skin, blistering, permanent scarring, and sometimes death. Being exposed to PPD once can make you sensitized to it, and it will only take a small amount later to cause a strong allergic reaction.
It's usually tourists who end up getting a black henna tattoo. They are often found in tourist areas and the use of PPD for these tattoos is widespread. An allergic reaction doesn't occur for 3 to 12 days after the application. Often the tourist has left and can't return to show the artist the damage he has done. And unfortunately the artist continues applying PPD not realizing the severe injuries that he is currently causing.
Can a Black Henna Tattoo Really Be Life Threatening?