Sensitization and Clinically Relevant Allergy to Hair Dyes and Clothes from Black Henna Tattoos: Do People Know the Risk? An Uncommon Serious Case and a Review of the Literature
July 2016
in “
Cosmetics
”
TLDR Black henna tattoos can cause severe allergies to hair and textile dyes, and there's a need for greater public awareness and regulation.
The 2016 document reports on the risks of sensitization to para-phenylenediamine (PPD) found in black henna tattoos, which can lead to allergic reactions when exposed to hair dyes or textile dyes. It includes a case study of an 18-year-old girl who developed a severe allergy to textile dyes after a reaction to hair dye and a henna tattoo, as well as a review of 33 other cases of hair dye sensitization and one case of contact allergy to both hair and textile dyes. The study found that most patients had a positive patch-test reaction to PPD and other allergens, with symptoms typically appearing within 72 hours of hair dyeing. The authors call for increased public awareness, better regulation, and improved cosmetic vigilance to ensure consumer safety.