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 Henna Safety: Protect Yourself!
PPD & Chemical Laced Henna
(Black Henna)
Henna, Babies, and Children
Safety Checklist
PPD & Chemical Laced Henna
(Black Henna)
Many people are looking a for a deep black tattoo-like stain from
natural henna.
Natural henna does not leave a black stain.
The color of natural henna varies and can be a deep burgundy brown,
coffee brown, rich maroonish, or any shade of orange or brown. The
color of your actual henna tattoo will depend on a number of factors
including, how fresh the henna is and what it is mixed with, how the
skin was prepared before applying the henna, how long the moist
henna was in contact with the skin, what part of the body was
hennaed, and how the dried henna was removed.
Natural henna is safe. I've been doing henna since 1999 and
I've never encountered an allergy to natural henna. It's
important that you only use natural henna and you know what other
ingredients are mixed with the henna.
 Henna needs to stay on a good while (much longer than an hour) for
a deep long lasting stain. The length the stain will stay depends on
your body chemistry, how long the henna is left on, if a sealant was
used, your body temperature, and how well the henna tattoo is cared for. A typical natural henna tattoo
will last 5 days to 3 weeks.
Any "henna" that leaves a deep black stain that lasts for more
than a couple of days, contains dangerous chemicals and may not
contain henna at all.
"Black henna" containing chemicals IS dangerous. Especially if you’ve had a black henna
tattoo in the past.
Why? So-called black henna contains a toxin called para-phenylenediamine
or PPD (coal tar) and
benzene (yes, the same benzene that is found in gasoline and
paint solvents) which seep into your bloodstream. Imagine
mixing gasoline, black dye, and coal tar and applying it to your
skin and you have black "henna". Sounds great, huh?
Para-phenylenediamine (coal tar) is most often found in hair dyes. It is
legal in hair dye in the USA at 6% or less. It is illegal in
many European countries. When it used as henna, it is
typically in concentrations of 50-70% or more. Think about
that. With hair dye it's not seeping directly into you skin
for an hour and it's only at 6% or less!
The allergic
reaction that PPD can cause is similar that of an allergy to bee
stings. You may know someone who has to carry around a
life-saving syringe in case they are stung by a bee? A PPD allergy
can develop at any time once you are sensitized to para-phenylenediamine,
but may not show up for weeks, months, or even years. Every time you
come into contact with PPD, the allergy will worsen. You will be
sensitized to PPD for the rest of your life.
A reaction to para-phenylenediamine can include itching, a rash,
full body hives, severe blistering, permanent scarring, liver
damage, and life-threatening breathing problems.
Check here for more information about
para-phenylenediamine here is a link to
The DuPont MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Note the
below sentence in the "Notes to Physicians" section of the official MSDS:
- "Severe overexposure may cause facial, pharyngeal, and
occasionally, laryngeal edema. Death may be rapid due to acute
respiratory distress."
Read about this study from the Internal Journal of Environmental
Research and Publix Health from the UAE about
PPD and black henna.
If you have had a black henna tattoo, do NOT dye your hair with a
synthetic hair dye without getting checked for an allergy to PPD. To learn more about how seriously this sensitivity can effect your
daily life,
read this short article by Perry Jackson
and her experience of
living with an allergy to PPD, that was acquired from hair dye.
If you have never had a black henna tattoo and are thinking of
getting one, please think again. Not only could you end up with a
life-long allergy, but you could end up in an immense amount of
pain, lifelong scars, and/or liver damage.
More About PPD (Paraphenylendiamine)
- PPD is a common additive for hair dyes.
- PPD is only approved in the USA for use on hair if less than 6%.
- When used as “henna” PPD ratios are typically 40-70%
and the PPD
seeps directly into the bloodstream.
- PPD is banned in the many European countries including France,
Sweden, & Germany for use in even hair dye.
- Once sensitized, you can become cross-sensitive to
other PPD-like
additives that include…
~ Black clothing dye (imagine not being able to wear black for
the rest of your life!)
~ Black rubber
~ Pen ink
~ Some food colorings and preservatives
~
Some prescription and over-the counter medications
~ Sunscreen (PABA)
More About Benzene
Benzene is sometimes mixed into regular brown/red henna. Make
sure the henna smells earthy and the artist tells you that the henna
should stay on as long as possible.
- Benzene is a component in crude oil, gasoline, plastics,
harsh solvents, and
other petroleum products.
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services
classifies benzene as a carcinogen (cancer causing and cancer spreading
agent)
- Benzene causes leukemia and is associated with other blood
cancers and pre-cancers of the blood.
How do you know if henna is safe for use?
If you are getting henna put on you at a festival, fair,
amusement park, vacation destination, or henna party, ask the artist
the following questions:
- What color will my henna tattoo be and how long will it
last?
If the answer is black and more than 3 days, the henna contains
PPD. Do NOT allow that henna to be applied to you or
someone you care about.
- May I see a list of ingredients in your henna?
Check for any chemicals or any other ingredients that you may
trigger an allergy. Mixing henna is not a secret.
Any good henna artist will be willing to tell you what is in
their henna paste.
- How long will the henna need to stay on my
skin?
Natural henna needs time to produce good long-lasting color. If the
answer is less than a couple of hours, there is likely something
else mixed in with their henna.
If you are purchasing henna from a store or from an on-line
retailer ask the same questions plus this one:
- Are the ingredients provided for your henna?
Ingredient list for
Beachcombers! natural henna:
Natural Henna Powder
Mineral Water
Menthol
Henna Oil (ours is a combination of myrtle and lemon)
Citric Preservatives
SAFETY
FIRST!
- Avoid henna with any chemicals added.
- Avoid henna without listed ingredients.
- Avoid any "black henna" that lasts more than a day or two or
is jet black.
- NEVER henna infants.
- Only henna children over 8 years old.
- Avoid doing henna on adults with
Hyperbilirubinemia or G6PD.
- Review your henna ingredients with every client.
- If doing henna on sensitive clients use mild ingredients and
oils, such as lavender oil.
Back To Top
 Henna, Babies,
and Children
NEVER HENNA INFANTS!
Hyperbilirubinemia and G6PD:
There are a couple of disorders that can make henna dangerous for
children: Hyperbilirubinemia and G6PD. In cultures where henna is
done often, children are screened at birth for these disorders, but
here in the US, we are not.
These disorders can cause severe anemic reactions in
children exposed to henna, though they are not normally a big
deal for adults exposed to small amounts of henna. The younger the
child, the more severe the reaction. I suggest adults with
either hyperbilirubinemia or G6PD also avoid henna. Other
items people with these disorders are often sensitive to are
aspirin, fava beans, and mothballs.
Most reputable henna artists avoid doing henna on kids under 6.
I don't henna children under the age of 8. My daughter has
severe allergies to many cosmetics, and that makes me a bit more
conservative than most. She has had henna tattoos since she was 8.
Read this medical article for more information on Hyperbilirubinemia:
Henna Induced Severe Hemolysis. Here is a more
user friendly site about G6PD.
Other Factors of Safe Henna for Children and Other Sensitive
Clients:
If you henna children, pregnant women, or other sensitive
individuals, consider making your henna mixture as mild as possible.
Avoid harsh oils in your henna mix, tea tree, eucalyptus, etc... If
you use oil, I suggest lavender oil, as it is very mild and doesn't
irritate the skin. Have a complete list of your henna
ingredients ready and review with every client (and their
parent, if it's a child).
Most reactions to henna, are not a reaction to the henna itself, but
to an ingredient in the henna mixture.
SAFETY
FIRST!
- Avoid henna with any chemicals added.
- Avoid henna without listed ingredients.
- Avoid any "black henna" that lasts more than a day or two or
is jet black.
- NEVER henna infants.
- Only henna children over 8 years old.
- Avoid doing henna on adults with
Hyperbilirubinemia or G6PD.
- Review your henna ingredients with every client.
- If doing henna on sensitive clients use mild ingredients and
oils, such as lavender oil.
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