Henna tattoo contact dermatitis - a report of four cases and brief review of the selected literature

Temporary henna tattoos have recently become increasingly popular, especially among teenagers. Combining henna with other colouring agents such as para-phenylenediamine (PPD) may increase its potential for contact sensitization, cross-reaction to related compounds, as well as life-long allergy. Several cases of contact dermatitis from temporary tattoos with black henna have been reported in the literature. We present our experiences with 4 pediatric cases of allergic contact dermatitis induced by henna tattooing and give a brief review of the literature. The agent responsible for contact allergy was proven to be PPD in 3 patients, and in one patch testing revealed positive reactions to PPD and benzocaine, as well as to wool alcohols, nickel sulphate and potassium dichromate, to previously used hair dye-all being of clinical relevance.