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FDA warns on risks related to temporary henna tattoos

Consumers should be vigilant about receiving henna tattoos amid reports that the temporary inking may result in adverse events, according to an FDA press release.

“Just because a tattoo is temporary, it doesn’t mean that it is risk free,” Linda Katz, MD, MPH, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said in the release.

The FDA says it has received reports from consumers who received temporary tattoos that resulted in unanticipated side effects. They include blisters, raised red weeping lesions, loss of pigmentation, scarring and increased sensitivity to light. In some cases, reactions occurred immediately after tattooing, while others developed 2 to 3 weeks later.

Often black henna — which can consist of traditional henna and a mix of darker ingredients, including hair dye, or hair dye alone — is substituted for henna, the FDA said. Coal-tar hair dye can include “p-phenylenediamine, an ingredient that can cause dangerous skin reactions in some people,” the release said, noting that laws regarding temporary tattoos vary by state.

If a temporary tattoo causes a reaction, the FDA says consumers should consult a health care professional and notify MedWatch.