TATTOO - It's been several years that dermatologists warn holidaymakers about the dangers of black henna. MetroNews book you some tips to avoid falling into the trap of unscrupulous tattooist.
It is a ritual for thousands of holidaymakers every year. Yet it is far from harmless. As evidenced by the case of Mary Bates, a British 16 year old suffered severe burns in the ankle after making a fleeting henna tattoo while on holiday in Turkey, whose story was recounted (in support pictures ) by the Daily Mail. The girl, who was destined to the modeling career has seen her dream shatter overnight. It's been several years that dermatologists warn holidaymakers about its dangers. MetroNews an update with Dr. Emmanuel Mahé, dermatologist at the Centre hospitalier Victor Dupouy Argenteuil.
► The Black Henna, what is it?Henna is a vegetable dye obtained from the dried leaves of a fragrant plant (Lawsonia inermis). It is also used for thousands of years for coloring hair and body painting. "The risk of allergy to traditional henna is very minimal," says Dr. Emmanuel Mahé, dermatologist at the Hospital. But to get a darker color, increase its lifespan and reduce the drying time, some tattoo artists add to their unscrupulous mixture of PPD (para-phenylenediamine) that manufactures handmade. But this substance used especially in hair dyes, is highly allergenic, insists the doctor.
► What are the health risks?Initial reactions arise within 48-72 hours after installation of the tattoo, and sometimes more than a week after placement of the tattoo. "This usually results in eczema-type skin reactions reproducing the pattern of the drawing, said the dermatologist. It treats inflammatory reactions with cortisone cream, which does not prevent permanent scarring." In addition, it can cause a hyper awareness of life, and therefore to recurrence when using products containing this dye (hair dyes, black clothes, rubber objects, etc.)
► Some precautions⇒ Do not let yourself be seduced by promises such as "natural henna tattoo black."⇒ The drying time of a henna tattoo is a minimum time. If you are told otherwise, it is quite possible that the product contains PPD. Ditto for the duration of the tattoo that does not last more than three weeks with natural henna.⇒ Check the dough used to make the temporary tattoo is the henna clear, with orange-brown color. More it is dark, the greater the risk that it was mixed with chemicals. Hence an increased risk of allergy
