London - Henna tattoos and hair dyes are increasingly causing allergic reactions among children, doctors have warned.
Data gathered over the past two decades by dermatologists in Leeds has revealed that 27 percent of children suffer from contact eczema, an allergic reaction which can lead to an itchy rash.
The researcher found that the proportion of children’s skin allergies linked to the chemical para-phenylenediamine – or PPD – doubled from eight percent between 1995 and 2004 to 16 percent between 2005 and 2014.
The use of PPD in black henna tattoos is banned in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but is still easy to get in other countries.
And PPD is widely used in hair dye, particularly black and dark brown colours. Just one use of black hair dye or henna that includes PPD can result in a painful outbreak of eczema.
Lead researcher Dr Vanessa Smith, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It’s clear that some of the highest rates of allergy amongst children are due to hair dye ingredients such as PPD. This is perhaps a sign of children using hair dyes and getting henna tattoos at younger ages.”
She added: “It’s important to track the rates of allergy in children to warn policymakers about potential public health risks.”
Daily Mail