What Are the Dangers of Tattoo Ink in Kids?

Temporary tattoos of animals, comic characters or flowers are familiar sights on children as young as toddler age, having becoming part of the average birthday party experience. Parents need to know about the safety of these products with specific reference to the colorants used in them.

How the FDA Classifies Temporary Tattoos

• Temporary tattoos of the type used at children's parties are classed as a cosmetic product. As such, they come under the regulations applied to this category of product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. True temporary tattoos, says the FDA, should wash off in a few days and contain only colorants approved by the FDA as being safe for cosmetic use.

  There have been, however, reported instances of non-approved colorants in products, which means that parents need to be vigilant in checking the ingredient list on temporary tattoo products.

Import Alerts on Foreign-Made Tattoos

• An import alert is in effect for several foreign-made temporary tattoos. According to Consumer Safety Officer Allen Halper of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, the temporary tattoos subject to the import alert are not allowed into the United States because they don't have the required ingredient declaration on the label or they contain colors not permitted for use in cosmetics applied to the skin.

Henna and the Skin

• An import alert is now in place regarding the use of henna as a skin dye in body-decorations. An unapproved use of a color additive called "black henna," which is only approved for use as a hair dye, makes these products adulterated and therefore illegal. The FDA has received reports of injuries to the skin from products marketed as henna tattoos.

  Added to some hair colorants to produce a darker shade of coloring, black henna may contain p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD. This ingredient can cause allergic reactions in some individuals and is not approved for direct application to the skin. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer. In addition to color additives, these skin-decorating products may contain other ingredients, such as solvents.

Reports of Allergic Reactions in Children

• Dr. Gregory Sonnen from Baylor University Medical Center's Department of Pediatrics has reported several instances of children experiencing hypersensitivity reactions to temporary tattoos.

  In one case, a 6-year-old boy developed a skin eruption 10 days after application of a temporary tattoo advertised as a "natural black henna tattoo." Sonnen describes this as a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the PPD in the tattoo ink. The boy had a temporary tattoo applied by a street vendor while vacationing at a Texas beach resort. No injectable ink was used. The skin art was noted to have a very dark ebony pigment. Ten days after application of the black henna, the skin erupted in weeping lesions that followed the contours of the tattoo. The child had no prior history of atopy, eczema or any allergic reactions.

Check Ingredient Listings

• The FDA requires that retail cosmetics, including temporary skin-staining products, have their ingredients listed on the label. Without such an ingredient declaration, they are considered misbranded and are illegal in interstate commerce. If the packaging doesn't tell you what is in it, do not buy it. Also avoid products containing PPD or black henna.