[Ashley]

MSN has an article on how black henna (different from natural henna) can cause an allergic reaction, leaving people with very ornate blisters:



"The American Academy of Dermatology recently issued a warning that a chemical found in black henna tattoos can cause a severe allergic reaction, causing the skin to redden, swell and blister — but only where the henna is applied, leaving people with bubbly blisters in shapes like suns, stars and flowers.

As henna body art has become mainstream in the last few years, often peddled at summer carnivals and concerts, dermatologists report increasingly treating patients, especially teen girls and young women, with these often elaborate looking allergic reactions.


“Just because they’re temporary, people think they’re safe,” says Dr. Sharon E. Jacob, a dermatologist at the University of California, San Diego.


Natural henna vs. black henna
While true henna is made from harmless plants, black henna uses a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, which makes the tattoo dry quickly and last longer — and in some cases, that’s much, much longer.
“These skin allergies themselves are not dangerous,” says Dr. Colby Evans, a dermatologist in private practice in Austin, Texas. “But they can cause scarring or darkness to the skin that can be permanent."



Read more about it here: Henna hazard: Chemical causes ornate allergies - Skin and beauty - MSNBC.com

[kcam125]

omg..that makes me cringe...that's terrible!!!!

[magosienne]

ouch !! that makes me cringe too.

[reemoo]

I m Arabic n we use henna alot
and we never use the dark henna coz it causes what u ve seen :S
tourists here think sometimes that henna is all the same but be careful and ask abt it b4 u apply it

[laurafaye]

I was going to get a henna on holiday but I'm too scared now

[Adrienne]

Ow wow that looks so painful!!

[Harlot]

Wow geez never trying that now, Ill make sure to use regular henna

[reesesilverstar]

Oooooooohhhh. My skin is itching... That looks horrible...

[breezyboo:)]

OMG. UGh wow, I hope that person in the pic is okay now.

[SweetLikeSin]

Ouch. I'd hate to see that happen to someone who used the wrong kind. I remember when my mom told me about a story on the news. A little boy got a henna tattoo of a spider and it was black henna. He had an allergic reaction to it and it blistered like the picture in the first post.

[Aniger86]

I had no idea there's different Hanna, like the natural one and the black one. Now I know and would look out for it if I ever get Henna art done.

[umraon]

I know about this. they use natural henna but they mix it with peroxide i think or another fluid so that the result will be a black color in stead of orange/red. but the problem is that they're few who know how much you can use of the fluid. If you use to much, you get burned...that's why i stick to traditional red henna.

[magneticheart]

Ouchh! I have to say though, I'm not surprised.
I've heard SO many stories about people going on holiday and getting a 'holiday' henna tattoo that is supposed to come off in around a week or two and end up with something a lot more permanant. I wouldn't risk it.