this was sent to me by a friend who gets the la times.

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Posted by jennifer on September 6, 2001 at 01:46:25:

the top is the link she sent me, i haven't had a chance to look at it
but i have to run and thought i would put this out to see what you
all think. take a look. hey catherine, maybe the word is finally
getting out!!!!

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000071262sep03.story

MONITOR

Henna Tattoos May Leave More Than a Mark

By JANE E. ALLEN

September 3 2001

You were proud of that cool-looking henna tattoo you picked up during
a
visit
to Venice Beach, the one that was supposed to fade
away with time. But then your skin started to itch. It turned red and
swollen--and looked nasty.

Your little indulgence may have left you with an unpleasant allergic
reaction
and a permanent sensitivity to the chemical dye that is
sometimes used to make henna designs look darker.

Doctors in the United States and abroad report seeing more patients
complaining of blistery skin reactions after having their skin
painted with henna designs, called mehndi. This form of body art,
traditionally applied to the hands and feet, gained in popularity a
few years ago after Madonna sported the designs in her music video
"Frozen."
The skin painting is a tradition in some countries,
including India, Morocco and Fiji.

Most tattoo parlors in the United States and Europe use pure henna, a
plant-based dye that rarely causes problems. The main
problem is with an added chemical that is contained in some temporary
tattoos
that you might get from street vendors, at amusement
parks and the like, according to German researchers who have studied
the
problem.

Henna, from the plant Lawsonia inermis , naturally produces a
reddish-brown
stain on the skin. But so-called black henna tattoos,
which also contain the chemical p-phenylenediamine, can produce
severe
allergic reactions. Some Web sites warn that PPD, an
ingredient in some black hair dyes, penetrates deep into the skin and
into
the bloodstream, where it can damage the liver and kidneys.

Researchers at the Dermatological Centre in Buxtehude, Germany,
tested
the
skin of people who had previously reacted to henna
tattoos. They applied pure henna as well as PPD. Only the chemical
dye
caused
a strong allergic reaction.

In a recent article in Britain's New Scientist magazine, the
researchers
warned that such reactions could restrict young people's job
prospects because they'd have to avoid working in industrial settings
where
the chemical is commonly used. The allergic reaction
appears to worsen with additional exposure to the chemical.

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: the top is the link she sent me, i haven't had a chance to look at it : but i have to run and thought i would put this out to see what you : all think. take a look. hey catherine, maybe the word is finally : getting out!!!! : : http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000071262sep03.story : : MONITOR : : Henna Tattoos May Leave More Than a Mark : : By JANE E. ALLEN : : September 3 2001 : : You were proud of that cool-looking henna tattoo you picked up during : a : visit : to Venice Beach, the one that was supposed to fade : away with time. But then your skin started to itch. It turned red and : swollen--and looked nasty. : : Your little indulgence may have left you with an unpleasant allergic : reaction : and a permanent sensitivity to the chemical dye that is : sometimes used to make henna designs look darker. : : Doctors in the United States and abroad report seeing more patients : complaining of blistery skin reactions after having their skin : painted with henna designs, called mehndi. This form of body art, : traditionally applied to the hands and feet, gained in popularity a : few years ago after Madonna sported the designs in her music video : "Frozen." : The skin painting is a tradition in some countries, : including India, Morocco and Fiji. : : Most tattoo parlors in the United States and Europe use pure henna, a : plant-based dye that rarely causes problems. The main : problem is with an added chemical that is contained in some temporary : tattoos : that you might get from street vendors, at amusement : parks and the like, according to German researchers who have studied : the : problem. : : Henna, from the plant Lawsonia inermis , naturally produces a : reddish-brown : stain on the skin. But so-called black henna tattoos, : which also contain the chemical p-phenylenediamine, can produce : severe : allergic reactions. Some Web sites warn that PPD, an : ingredient in some black hair dyes, penetrates deep into the skin and : into : the bloodstream, where it can damage the liver and kidneys. : : Researchers at the Dermatological Centre in Buxtehude, Germany, : tested : the : skin of people who had previously reacted to henna : tattoos. They applied pure henna as well as PPD. Only the chemical : dye : caused : a strong allergic reaction. : : In a recent article in Britain's New Scientist magazine, the : researchers : warned that such reactions could restrict young people's job : prospects because they'd have to avoid working in industrial settings : where : the chemical is commonly used. The allergic reaction : appears to worsen with additional exposure to the chemical.
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