Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Florida Health Department: Beware Of Black Henna Tattoos

Credit FloridaHealth.gov
Young man shows the scar left by a black henna temporary tattoo

People who got temporary henna tattoos during their Florida spring break might have returned home with permanent scars, according to a warning issued today by the Florida Health Department.

Officials are alerting people to steer clear of  tattoos done with black henna.

Unlike brown henna tattoos, which contain natural ingredients like dried henna leaves and lemon juice, the black version contains a chemical found in black hair dye.

The ingredient is toxic and can cause itchy, oozing blisters that could turn into permanent scars in the shape of the tattoo.

Symptoms can appear up to a few weeks after the tattoo is applied, depending on the concentration of the dye and how allergic a person is to the chemical.

Anyone who has a reaction to a black henna tattoo is urged to see a doctor and submit an injury report online at FloridaHealth.gov.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.