British Skin Foundation Issues Warning Over Temporary 'Black Henna' Tattoos

The British Skin Foundation has issued a warning against the use of the black henna tattoo, which is leaving children with painful scars, blisters and burns. The foundation has strictly recommended the parents to not let their children get a black henna tattoo while holidaying.

According to the latest research carried out by the skin foundation, nearly two-thirds of the doctors have confessed to have seen a rise in the number of skin-related issues in the last one year due to the black henna tattoo. The foundation further said that severe burns are being caused by getting the black henna tattoo through illegal tattoo practices, which are flourishing within the country and abroad.

The skin specialists said that there are chances of getting an “adverse” skin reaction from the temporary black henna tattoo that are becoming increasingly popular among children and are also commonly available in many tourist resorts.

The warning has been issued after a similar case of tattoo burn surfaced when a British teenager and an aspiring model, Mary Bates, got cracks in her leg skin after getting a black henna tattoo. Bates got inked while holidaying with her friends in Turkey, however, after a week cracks started to appear on her lower leg. Soon, the tattoo left her severely burned.

The New York Daily reported that the burn specialists at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, believe that this was the worst cases of all the henna tattoo-related injuries. The skin of the 16-year-old girl has been left damaged with permanent burn scars from the chemicals in the henna.

"The message is clear: having a 'black henna' temporary tattoo presents a significant risk of a very nasty adverse reaction to the tattoo itself,” said Dr Christopher Flower of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association. "It also increases the risk of either not being able to use most hair dyes in the future or having a bad reaction to them if the warnings are ignored."