Severe type IV hypersensitivity to 'black henna' tattoo

Type IV hypersensitivity reaction to a temporary tattoo.

A 6-year-old boy developed a skin eruption 10 days after application of a temporary tattoo advertised as a "natural black henna tattoo." The eruption was a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the tattoo ink. The textile dye paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is a common industrial allergen and can be found in some temporary tattoo inks. This case describes the reaction and reviews the international li...

Henna Tattoo: Temporary or Permanent?

Contact dermatitis with henna tattoo.

Allergic and irritant reactions to henna are rare. Para-phenylenediamine, which is sometimes added to obtain a dark, blackish henna, causes the majority of contact dermatitis reported related with tattoos. Allergic contact dermatitis due to temporary paint-on tattoo with black henna is described in two adolescents.

Irritant contact dermatitis from a black henna tattoo without sensitization to para-phenylendiamine.

Allergic contact dermatitis from nonpermanent black henna tattoos has been frequently reported, particularly in children. Contamination or adulteration of the dyes with para-phenylendiamine has been identified as major cause of active sensitization and elicitation of severe allergic contact dermatitis. Sequelae include permanent sensitization, hyper- or hypopigmentation, scarring, keloids, and ...

Cutaneous hyperpigmentation following nonpermanent henna tattoo.

Decorative henna skin painting can provoke severe reactions in the skin. We report 3 cases of unusual and persistent hyperpigmentation following nonpermanent henna tattoo, which alerted us to identify an additional side effect.