Henna tattoo leaves child with chemical burns

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A mother has warned parents against allowing their children to get black henna tattoos after her young sons were left with severe chemical burns.

Toni Feeney, 30, was on holiday with her family in Morocco when her two sons asked to get black henna tattoos, with one requesting a Spiderman-inspired web and the other asking for a dragon tattoo.

However, both tattoos caused severe skin damage, leaving each of Feeney’s sons with chemical burns after the designs appeared to have melted into their skin.

Posting on Facebook as a warning to others, Feeney wrote:

“This is what black henna can do to your skin! We let our children have them on holiday not thinking for a second it would be dangerous.

“The hospital have said that the chemicals/dyes in black henna are too strong. They now have chemical burns and are on antibiotics and antihistamines in the hope that they don’t get infection or get poorly.

“If you are offered it say NO!”

Speaking to The Independent, Feeney reveals that both of her sons are now “recovering well”.

The Lancashire-based mother’s post has been shared more than 200 times, garnering comments from fellow parents wishing her sons a speedy recovery.

“Poor boys that stuff should be banned it’s full of nasty stuff but unless you know you’re not to blame it’s easy done [sic],” one person wrote.

“OMG your poor boys, hope they heal quickly,” added another.

“These places should be banned”.

Feeney's account follows a similar story from Jade Morris, 26, whose young children suffered from severe burns in July after getting black henna tattoos in Tunisia.

The risks surrounding black henna are well-known, with the NHS warning that the temporary tattoos could put you at risk of “life-threatening allergic reactions” and/or lifetime scars.

The tattoos are readily available abroad and at some UK festivals, their website states, and may contain high doses of a toxic chemical dye known as paraphenylenediamine (PPD).

PPD can be lawfully used in small doses in hair dyes within the EU, the NHS clarifies.

However, Dr Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, warns that everyone should approach black tattoos with caution.

"PPD is safely and legally used in permanent hair dyes where clear instructions are given, and where the maximum level is controlled by law. But black henna often contains PPD at high levels, to give a dark colour quickly,” he says.

"When applied to the skin in the form of a black henna temporary tattoo, PPD can cause chemical burns and lead to allergic reactions."

Symptoms from chemical burns can range from tingling and swelling to blistering of the skin, he continues, adding that you’re advised to seek medical help immediately if you experience a reaction like this.

Meanwhile, “real henna” is nothing to be concerned about and is generally safe to use, he points out:

"Real henna is never black, but is orange-brown.

"Any very dark temporary tattoo should be treated with caution."