The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement Monday warning people about the risks of getting temporary henna tattoos. These temporary tattoos last from several days to three weeks, but side effects may come along with them.
Henna tattoos are prevalent at temporary tattoo kiosks at beaches, boardwalks and specialty shops. Students about to celebrate Spring Break should beware, said the FDA, as many head to the beach and indulge in "harmless fun."
Side effects may include redness of the skin, blisters, raised lesions, loss of pigmentation and permanent scarring. Some people have also experienced an increased sensitivity to sunlight exposure. MedWatch reports incidents of more serious and lasting bad reactions to henna tattoos. Some reactions may not occur for up to three weeks and some happen immediately. Severe reactions to henna tattoos have sent some people to hospital emergency rooms to seek medical care.
"At first I was a little upset she got the tattoo without telling me. But when it became red and itchy and later began to blister and the blisters filled with fluid, I was beside myself," said the mother of a 17-year old girl.
"Just because a tattoo is temporary it doesn't mean that it is risk-free," said Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors.
Henna is a coloring made from a plant that is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and Asia. The dried henna is ground into a paste that is often used to decorate the skin and create beautiful, temporary tattoo art. The FDA warned also about "black henna," an alternative to the traditional henna, in which other ingredients are added for a darker, longer-lasting tattoo.
The extra ingredient often used in "black henna" tattoos is a coal-tar hair dye that contains a dangerous chemical called phenylenediamine (PPD). Law prohibits PPD from being used in cosmetics that are intended to be applied to the skin. Some tattoos artists may even use the PPD alone and not even mix it with the henna.
Each state has its own laws pertaining to tattooing and cosmetology; some regulate temporary tattooing and some don't. The FDA said that no one ensures that tattoo artists are following safe practices.
