London - A girl of seven has been left with chemical burns and scarring after a severe reaction to a henna tattoo she was given on holiday.
Madison Gulliver was with her family in Egypt when her father allowed her to get the temporary design that stretched from a fingertip to her right elbow.
But afterwards she complained it was itchy – and the swirling pattern soon erupted in horrifying blisters.
Once back in the UK, doctors carried out a test on the liquid seeping from the blisters on Madison’s arm and were shocked to discover a high PH level, indicating she had suffered a chemical burn.
The primary school pupil eventually had to have the blisters cut away at a burns unit.
Madison’s father Martin, 50, a Royal Mail manager from the Isle of Wight, said: "She is potentially scarred for life after getting a black henna tattoo in the hotel’s salon. She has blisters from her finger to her elbow and is in so much pain."
The NHS warns that black henna tattoos can contain high levels of a toxic chemical dye which is normally illegal to use on the skin called paraphenylenediamine (PPD). It is often found in permanent hair dye.
Mr Gulliver added: "We were entirely unaware of the dangers. It’s partly my fault because I didn’t know about it, but also the fault of the salon because they are using dangerous chemicals on children."
The Gulliver family had been enjoying their holiday in Hurghada last month until Madison’s mother Sylvia, 43, was taken to hospital with a gall bladder infection.
She was kept in for two days as she recovered, and as a treat for their two children for being so well behaved, Mr Gulliver paid for them all to get matching black henna tattoos.
Mrs Gulliver, a postal worker, suffered no adverse reaction.
Her son Sebastian, nine, instantly complained of itching so the pattern was quickly scrubbed from his arm. But shortly after returning home on July 25 the skin under Madison’s tattoo started to bubble.
Mr Gulliver said: "We noticed there was a small patch on the top of the tattoo that was raised but we couldn’t see any redness."
The worried parents washed off the tattoo, which revealed a rash in its outline.
Doctors used steroid cream to treat the area but when blisters started to form on Madison’s fingers she was taken to A&E.
After five visits to St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, she was referred to burns specialists at Salisbury District Hospital.
Mr Gulliver said: "We started to panic. It was getting worse and worse."
Doctors eventually cut off the blisters, and Madison has been referred to a scar management unit. She has to wear a pressure bandage for at least six months to minimise the damage.
The Fort Arabesque Resort, Spa And Villas in Hurghada has apologised and said it no longer offers the tattoos.
In an email to the family, Heike Moursy, the guest relation manager, said: "We don’t want to have such horrible reactions to anybody in the future again. We know this does not help your daughter but we wish her to get well soon."
Dr Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry And Perfumery Association, said: "Real henna is never black, but is orange-brown. Any very dark temporary tattoo should be treated with caution."