Black henna tattoos may cause allergic skin reactions
16 August 2002
Temporary 'black' henna tattoos applied in Asia or the Middle East may lead to allergic contact dermatitis, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has warned.
This is because the tattoos may contain the dye phenylenediamine (PPD), which is added in high concentrations to red-brown henna to darken it and to speed drying.
In Australia, PPD is allowed in low concentrations in hair dyes provided they are labelled with a skin irritation warning.
But it is banned for use in skin colouration products because of its skin-sensitising properties.
Travellers should be warned against buying black henna tattoos overseas because of the sensitisation risk, the TGA said.
But there was insufficient evidence to warrant an alert about cross-reactivity to other irritants, as had been suggested in Germany.
A German dermatologist claimed recently that PPD provoked cross-allergy, leaving people with the potential for lifelong reactions to local anaesthetic, sunscreen, cosmetics and black-dyed clothing.
Cases linking PPD and allergic contact dermatitis have been reported in Australia and overseas.
For example, researchers from the Skin and Cancer Foundation in Melbourne have reported 2 cases in which primary eruption at the tattoo site was followed within days by a generalised eruption. Oral corticosteroids were prescribed because topical corticosteroids proved ineffective (Australasian Journal of Dermatology 2000; 41: 168-71).
Last Reviewed: 16 August 2002
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