title: [Contact allergy to henna tattoos].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tattoos with henna colours have become very popular and the prevalence of contact allergy seems to increase.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a short review article based on our own clinical experience and literature identified through a search in PubMed with the words "henna", "paraphenylendiamin" and "allergic contact dermatitis." A case report is included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is well documented that many experience skin reactions after henna tattoos. The cause is almost always contact allergy to the azo compound paraphenylendiamin, which is added to speed up the process and make the colour darker. Most people, including children, get henna tattoos during vacations in Asia or the Mediterranean. Established contact allergy is permanent. Many hair-colour products contain paraphenylendiamin, and persons with contact allergy against the product may develop a very strong contact allergic eczema by use of such substances. Acute reactions are treated with local cortisone products, or with systemic steroids. Cross reaction to substances with a similar chemical structure may occur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tattoos with paraphenylendiamin-containing henna colours should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Hudavdelingen, Stavanger universitetssykehus, Postboks 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway. stbj@sus.no
authors.forename: Bjarte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steinkjer
authors.forename: Katarina Zak
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Stangeland
authors.forename: Carsten Sauer
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D031564:Lawsonia Plant; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D010655:Phenylenediamines