by Joyce Priddy

Created on: October 19, 2006   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

Beware of henna tattoos that profess to stain the skin black. Some of these henna tattoo stains have p-phenylenediamine also known as PPD in them. Others have a tar substance in them.

PPD is similar to having your skin smeared with bee poison or the dust from poison ivy. It can cause severe allergic reactions including scarring, swelling of the tattoo site, infections, oozing and severe irritations. In extreme cases people have died from PPD or tar reactions.

There is a henna tattoo powder and pre-made paste that stains the skin a dark Grey. The staining is from vegetables and fruits, not from PPD. These henna tattoos never become a deep black and last only a few days as opposed to several weeks of the traditional henna tattoos.

If an artistic is using black ink, ask them if the stain will be black or Grey. Ask the artist if the henna ink contains PPD or tar. If the artist cannot answer these questions, run away. It is too big of a risk that they are putting PPD or tar dye on your skin with their henna tattoos. Black ink henna tattoos can be very dangerous.

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