Black Henna Dye Might Cause 'Oozing Lesions' on Some Gullible Tourists
LatestWhat are some words you associate with the phrase “temporary tattoo?” Probably things like “boardwalk,” “awesome,” “vacation,” “crooked,” and “flaky.” If you’re talking about henna tattoos, however, your temporary tattoo word cloud might include things like: “hives,” “boils,” and “rash.” That’s because, according to a statement released Monday by the Food and Drug Administration, black henna dye might cause a longer-lasting allergic reaction, riddling your sun-burnished vacation skin with “oozing lesions.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, there’s an extra ingredient in the longer-lingering black henna dye — hair dye including p-phenylenediamine, or PPD. An FDA report further explains that PPD can trigger allergic reactions in some people, “including redness, blisters, oozing lesions, increased sensitivity to sunlight and permanent scarring.” Those lovely side effects can occur right after the dye is applied, or as many as two to three weeks later.