Sensitization to para-phenylenediamine from a streetside temporary tattoo.
"Temporary" henna tattoos (skin painting or pseudotattooing) are in vogue among American and European youngsters, particularly when vacationing. A 17-year-old girl presented with a severe contact dermatitis of her scalp and face after having dyed her hair with a permanent oxidative hair dye. She denied previous use of oxidative hair dye. Eight months earlier she had a "temporary" henna tattoo applied on her shoulder by a transient artist in downtown Montreal and developed an acute, erythematous, edematous eruption that resolved with residual, prolonged hyperpigmentation. As henna tattooing is a lengthy and tedious procedure, para-phenylenediamine (PPD) may be added to the mixture to accelerate the process, to darken, and to give more precision to the design. This short-lived fad can have longer-term sequelae then expected, ranging from postinflammatory hyperpigmentation of the tattoo site to permanent sensitization to PPD and related compounds.
Marcoux
Danielle
D
Division of Dermatology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Danielle_Gosselin@SSSS.gouv.qu.ca
Couture-Trudel
Pierre-Marc
PM
Riboulet-Delmas
Gisèle
G
Sasseville
Denis
D
D000293:Adolescent; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C029728:4-phenylenediamine