Banned black-henna tattoos are still on offer at desert safaris and weddings despite renewed warnings that using hair dye afterwards can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Black henna often contains the chemical p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which gives the natural reddish-brown dye a black tint. It is also the main component in most hair dyes.
Once the body's immune system has triggered an allergic reaction to PPD, such as after having a black henna tattoo, further exposure can be fatal.
"If you then dye your hair, it could cause an acute reaction, which can make you go into anaphylactic shock," said Dr Fatma Mostafa, a skin specialist at Al Rustom Medical Centre in Dubai.
This can cause abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and, in extreme cases, even death.
Источник: The National
