Henna is a shrub in North Africa, India, Sri Lanka and other countries. An extract made from the leaves is mixed with other substances to make a dye that is used to make temporary tattoos. Some patients who get the tattoo will develop a contact dermatitis, which can be severe.
Plant: Lawsonia inermis
Family: Lythraceae
Risk factors for contact dermatitis:
(1) history of atopic dermatitis
(2) previous exposure to henna
(3) allergy to a component of the henna dye mixture
Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a chemical commonly found in henna dye mixtures to make the process faster and the color darker. It is a potent sensitizer for contact dermatitis in affected patients. Patch testing to PPD can confirm the sensitivity.
Complications:
(1) persistent hyper- or hypopigmentation
(2) allergy to cross-reacting compounds in hair and/or clothing dyes
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