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Black Henna: Temporary Tattoo

or Permanent Problem

Mollie Bea Rodebaugh

Davidson County Community College

Abstract

Tattoos have become the rage among young people over the past few years. To accommodate the fad, temporary tattoos have become readily available. Most temporary tattoos are made in sticker form, but there is also the art of henna temporary tattooing. Merriam-Webster defines henna as “a reddish brown dye obtained from leaves of the henna plant” (Merriam-Webster, 2003). With the popularity of black tribal tattoos, some henna artists have altered the natural ingredients of spices and oils and instead have added chemicals. The result of altering the ingredients has caused some horrendous medical issues. These medical issues vary from mild to severe reactions, but there are many problems associated with this product that could cause permanent damages or disfigurement.

Black Henna: Temporary Tattoo or Permanent Problem

Permanent tattooing has been around for thousands of years. Tattooing is viewed by some as a form of art or self-expression. The United States has put an age limit to this art. Youth who are not of legal age to receive a permanent tattoo and even adults who fear pain have resorted to temporary tattooing. Most temporary tattoos are made in sticker form with no harmful chemicals. Henna is another form of temporary tattooing that has been around for centuries. “Henna, an extract of the plant lawsonia, has been used for centuries in many cultures mainly as a dye for hair and nails as well as for decorative body painting” (Lauchl & Lautenschlager, 2001). “Safe, natural, traditional henna paste is made of pure henna leaves, lemon juice, spices, and pure essential oils” (Cartwright-Jones, 2003). Natural henna comes in a brown reddish color. Any other colors should not be used! If it is an altered color besides the brick color then additives are present which may be harmful or possibly fatal.

Pure henna paste stains the skin a reddish brown color and in order to achieve the darker black color artists add some ingredients. “Some traditional henna artists use acetone, lighter fluid, turpentine, gasoline, and dry cleaning fluid to their mixes to get near black stains” (Cartwright-Jones). These ingredients sound horrible to put upon your skin but the main culprit is PPD.

PPD, or para-phenylenediamine is a synthetic coal tar dye, and causes severe

reactions in some people. Children are most at risk from PPD “Black Henna”.

Their bodies cannot easily process PPD. Many children have been hospitalized

after receiving these “temporary tattoos”. They will have health problems for

the rest of their lives. (Cartwright-Jones, 1999)

There is only one factor in understanding the effects of PPD. PPD can and will effect anyone that it has come in contact with the chemical. PPD does not affect everyone the first time they are exposed but it will affect them eventually if they are consistently exposed to it by receiving more temporary tattoos.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offers safety cards for chemicals. They offer a card just for p-Phenylenediamine it states that the chemical can be absorbed through the skin, inhalation of the dust may cause asthmatic reactions, if ingested the substance may cause effects on the blood, and that exposure may result in death (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH], 2002). Depending on what type of exposure and the sensitivity of the person depends on the severity of the reaction to the chemical.

PPD, black henna, has caused permanent scarring and lasting health conditions. Krystle a 21-year-old woman has had horrible side effects from PPD. Krystle’s mother has made it a mission to get her story out. Her mother states that every thing started about 5 days after having her temporary tattoo applied, it started with contact dermatitis and has escalated to heart disease, blood problems, extreme weight gain, bruising, breathing difficulties and now a hyperthyroid (Wilson, 2002). This young woman’s enjoyment of life has been cut short because of this “temporary” tattoo. This is just one story of many individuals who have had permanent problems associated with PPD. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also states, “Repeated or prolonged inhalation exposure may cause asthma. The substance may have effects on the kidneys, resulting in kidney impairment” (NIOSH, 2002).

There are two problems with the research of PPD in a henna tattoo and it’s effects. The first problem is that a lot of doctors are not aware of this growing problem so misdiagnosis occurs. The second problem is, “The complete ingredients of the pastes used for these temporary tattoos are usually a secret and cannot be determined, as exactly the same paste is no longer available when patients present themselves at a clinic” (Lauchl & Lautenschlager, 2001). If the original product could be found then it can be determined how much exposure has occurred by the percentage of PPD in the paste but by the time a doctor links the temporary tattoo to the problem it is to late.

The number one strategy is DO NOT receive a temporary henna tattoo if the henna being used is jet black. As previously stated natural henna is a reddish brown color not black. If a person really wants a black henna tattoo they need to ask the artist if they can smell the powder or paste if the product has a foul odor, a chemical smell do not use it. Natural henna has no odor if it does it is a pleasant odor of natural oils. Ask the artist to demonstrate the tattoo process on them self if they are hesitant then you know something is wrong with the product they are offering.

Artists insist on using black henna even with the knowledge of what PPD can do to a human being. It is very easy to acquire black henna off of the Internet. One particular site states, “For less than twenty bucks you can do twenty to thirty black henna tattoos on yourself, your family, your friends or paying customers” (Black Henna Kits, 2001). Nowhere on this site does it state that PPD is not an ingredient used in their product. The idea of this company advertising a product that can intentionally inflict a chemical burn on a loved one or another human being is completely inhumane. The Food and Drug Administration states, “The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2002).

Temporary in this particular situation does not describe what the effects of PPD can do upon a human being. Long-term permanent health conditions can be a cause of this chemical and knowledge is the only thing to protect young people trying to be apart of a colorful trend.

References

Black Henna Kits. (2001). Retrieved July 7, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.blackhennakits.com

Cartwright-Jones, Catherine. (1999). Retrieved July 7, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/warnings.html

Cartwright-Jones, Catherine. (2003). Retrieved July 7, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/smallbroch2.html

Lauchl, Severin & Lautenschlager, Stephan. (2001). Contact dermatitis after temporary henna tattoos-an increasing phenomenon. Swiss Medical Weekly, 131, 199-202. Retrieved July 7, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://smw.ch

Henna. (2003). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online, 2003) http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2002). International Chemical Safety Cards: p-Phenylenediamine. Retrieved July 9, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0805.html

US Food and Drug Administration. (2001). Temporary Tattoos and Henna/Mehndi. Retrieved July 9, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov

Wilson, Deborah. (2001). Retrieved July 7, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.mehandi.com/ppd/wilson/wilson.html