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What Are the Dangers of Henna Tattoos?

While henna tattoos that have been purchased in the United States are safe for most people to use, there are some exceptions to this rule. There are greater risks when these temporary skin-staining techniques have been applied abroad, as they do not have the required ingredient declaration on the label and may contain harmful chemicals.

  1. Napthoquinone Sensitivity

    • Some people are allergic to henna. This allergy is known as napthoquinone sensitivity and can cause a tight chest, itching and wheezing. It is possible to do a skin test before applying a henna tattoo to ensure that there is no risk of a reaction to the henna.

    Children

    • In Hindu, Bedouin, Amazigh and Arab cultures, amongst others, newborns are often hennaed as a traditional way to protect them from malevolent spirits. However, exposure to henna in this way can put infants at risk of hyperbilirubinemia, a condition that can lead to brain damage. There is a greater risk of henna causing hyperbilirubinemia in premature and G6PD-deficient neonatals. Henna should not be used on G6PD-deficient children as there is also a risk of it leading to severe anemia.

    PPD

    • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have received reports of adverse reactions to temporary tattoo products which have been sold as henna tattoos. In many cases, this relates to skin-staining techniques that have been advertised as "black henna." Henna is not naturally black and the substances used in this process often contain the coal tar dye PPD, or para-phenylenediamine. The only legal use for this chemical is as a hair dye; it should not be directly applied to skin. PPD is highly sensitising when applied to the skin and can lead to an allergic reaction in around 15 percent of people. Signs indicating that an individual is suffering an allergic reaction to PPD may include irritated, reddened skin, later leading to blistering, scarring and contact dermatitis. In the long term, people who have been sensitised to PPD have a risk of reacting to products containing lower concentrations of PPD, such as hair dye, for the rest of their lives.

    Solvents

    • Some henna mixes in Africa, India and Arabia darken their henna mixes by adding lighter fluid, gasoline, acetone, turpentine or dry cleaning fluid. Henna pasts should not be applied of it smells of solvents as there is a danger of them seeping into the bloodstream.

    Camphor

    • Henna artists in India sometimes darken their henna mixes with camphor or camphor-containing white flower oil. Potential reactions to camphor include nausea, dizziness and intoxication in both the artist and client.

    Nut Allergies

    • Walnut powder is occasionally used to darken henna stains, particularly in Earth henna kits. People who are allergic to walnut may suffer a rash if this is applied to their skin. For more sensitive walnut allergy sufferers, there is a risk of the powder inducing an anaphylactic shock.

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