Black henna, know your risks
In summer it is very frequent that is offered the realization of non-permanent tattoos with henna - a pigment obtained by drying and crushing the leaves and flowers of a shrub, the Lawxonia inermis-in places such as beaches and its boardwalks, festivals and exhibitions in villages, markets, or any outdoor event. This type of tattoos are popular precisely because they are deleted after a few days, and as it is not necessary to pierce the skin, this is a painless practice.
The apparently innocuous nature of these tattoos attracts both adults - who don't decide to mark the skin forever - and children - which we find it difficult to get the permission of their parents, who see it as a kind of fun makeup and without consequences; However, the Spanish Agency of medicines and health products, already issued a briefing note in July 2008 warning of the risks of tattooing with Black henna.
Henna is a natural product that is used for coloring hair or make non-permanent tattoos on the skin, but its colour is greenish Brown (Red Brown on the skin), and darken it and get a bright black tone, and accelerate at the same time its attachment to the skin, are used for dyes as the p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause serious skin allergic reactions and sensitize permanently affectedin such a way that if it subsequently comes into contact with these dyes (for example through clothing) would suffer reactions that could become serious.
The concentration of PPD black henna tends to reach 15%, while the maximum allowed for dermal application is 2%, and 6% when it comes to dyes for hair. And, in addition, it cannot be applied directly on the skin, eyebrows and eyelashes.
The main signs that indicate that you are suffering from an allergic reaction in the area where a tattoo with black henna, according to the drug agency, have made you are: itching, redness, swelling, spots or discoloration, and even blisters or scars. If you show any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Long term sensitization to PPD may cause a severe allergic reaction to produce a cross reaction with certain drugs, such as sulfa drugs, antihistamines and certain anesthetics.
P-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a dye that is added to the natural henna to darken it, and can trigger severe allergic reactions in persons are performing a tattoo
• The color of the powder. Natural henna has a greenish-brown color, and if it is dark, or black, you will have added dyes.
• The color of the tattoo. Natural henna stains skin from a red-brown tone, while the color will be black in the case of using black henna.
• The time required to fix a tattoo. With natural henna, the process is slow, and up to four hours may be necessary to let the tattoo dry on the skin. Therefore, if we are told that we can remove the pasta just a hour after application, will be because it's black henna.
• The duration of the tattoo on the skin. With natural henna drawing will usually last three or four days. However, black henna tattoos are more than one week.
The apparently innocuous nature of these tattoos attracts both adults - who don't decide to mark the skin forever - and children - which we find it difficult to get the permission of their parents, who see it as a kind of fun makeup and without consequences; However, the Spanish Agency of medicines and health products, already issued a briefing note in July 2008 warning of the risks of tattooing with Black henna.
Henna is a natural product that is used for coloring hair or make non-permanent tattoos on the skin, but its colour is greenish Brown (Red Brown on the skin), and darken it and get a bright black tone, and accelerate at the same time its attachment to the skin, are used for dyes as the p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause serious skin allergic reactions and sensitize permanently affectedin such a way that if it subsequently comes into contact with these dyes (for example through clothing) would suffer reactions that could become serious.
The concentration of PPD black henna tends to reach 15%, while the maximum allowed for dermal application is 2%, and 6% when it comes to dyes for hair. And, in addition, it cannot be applied directly on the skin, eyebrows and eyelashes.
The main signs that indicate that you are suffering from an allergic reaction in the area where a tattoo with black henna, according to the drug agency, have made you are: itching, redness, swelling, spots or discoloration, and even blisters or scars. If you show any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Long term sensitization to PPD may cause a severe allergic reaction to produce a cross reaction with certain drugs, such as sulfa drugs, antihistamines and certain anesthetics.
How to differentiate natural henna from henna black
If you want to make a natural hennatattoo, you should first check that it is not adulterated with other dyes, and that it is not black henna. Thus, you will avoid problems in the skin, or risk become sensitized permanently, and to suffer a serious allergic reaction if later you enter in contact with this type of dyes. So you can look at:P-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a dye that is added to the natural henna to darken it, and can trigger severe allergic reactions in persons are performing a tattoo
• The color of the powder. Natural henna has a greenish-brown color, and if it is dark, or black, you will have added dyes.
• The color of the tattoo. Natural henna stains skin from a red-brown tone, while the color will be black in the case of using black henna.
• The time required to fix a tattoo. With natural henna, the process is slow, and up to four hours may be necessary to let the tattoo dry on the skin. Therefore, if we are told that we can remove the pasta just a hour after application, will be because it's black henna.
• The duration of the tattoo on the skin. With natural henna drawing will usually last three or four days. However, black henna tattoos are more than one week.
Article contributed for educational purposes