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Be Careful, Henna Tattoos Contain Harmful Blends

You are advised to be more careful in using henna tattoos because these tattoos apparently contain substances that may not be good for health. Additional dyes on henna can also cause dangerous skin reactions and should not be used on your skin. So far, henna is used as a hair dye, body coloring, nail coloring, or as a temporary tattoo ink. In India, henna is known as mehndi and is used for body painting, especially at wedding ceremonies. Meanwhile, Indonesian people often refer to it as "boyfriend". Henna comes from a plant with the Latin name Lawsonia inermis which is brownish red and grows in many tropical and subtropical regions, such as South Asia and Africa. In Indonesia, this plant is known as henna. The leaves are pounded, then used as natural coloring or temporary tattoo ink. Temporary tattoos alone can last for three days to several weeks depending on the type of dye used and the condition of your skin.

Henna Contains Hazardous Ingredients

Although derived from plants, henna is not entirely safe for health. Because to make ink that will be used as a temporary tattoo, it takes a mixture of other coloring substances. As temporary tattoo ink, the henna used is black henna. Additional substances that may be contained in black henna are coal tar. Its chemical name is p-phenylenediamine, or better known as PPD.

Possible Adverse Effects of Using Henna Tattoos

The original color produced by henna is a blend of orange, brown, and red. For the sake of producing a darker color and the results of a long-lasting tattoo, there are other substances added. There are risk factors caused by the use of henna tattoos applied to the skin. Skin allergy is a condition that can arise. An allergic reaction that may occur can be inflammation in the skin after 1-2 weeks of henna tattooing is used. Blisters can also be one form of risk. This inflammation scars can leave deep scar tissue. Another possibility is that the skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight and pigment disorders in the skin. Furthermore, allergic injuries usually leave scars. Henna should also not be used by people with G6PD deficiency disease, which is a genetic disorder that causes disruption of red blood cell function.

Tips To Avoid the Risk of Henna Tattoos

Traveling to a place and making henna tattoos offered at that place is really exciting. However, you are advised to apply the following tips to avoid the risks that can be caused.
  • If in doubt, you can do an allergy test before using henna on the skin.
  • Does not apply to sensitive body skin.
  • Choose the bright color, which is a blend of orange, brown, and red, or one of those colors. If the color is dark, it is thought to contain PPD which can cause allergies.
  • Try to find out the ingredients by reading the list of ingredients on the ink packaging.
  • Don't be tempted by long-lasting henna tattoos because you can be sure to use substances that are not safe for the skin.
  • Let the henna tattoo disappear by itself. You can try removing henna when the ink has faded by soaking it in a solution of water and sea salt, or table salt that is used for cooking. If the henna does not go away and you experience an allergic reaction, immediately consult a doctor to get the treatment needed.
  • If your skin shows certain reactions after applying henna, such as stinging, burning sensation, or blisters appearing on the skin, immediately go to the hospital to get help.
Henna tattoos are pretty, but you have to be careful wearing them. Do not let the beauty of henna scratches sacrifice your skin health.

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