A mother has issued a strong caution to vacationers and parents after her daughter sustained burns during a trip that could result in lasting scars. The Australian woman shared a warning about temporary henna tattoos while vacationing in Bali, Indonesia, revealing her daughter’s negative reaction following a short stay on the popular tourist island. She posted images of her daughter’s temporary henna tattoo, showing a significant change from when it was first done at the beach to a week later when the dye had mostly faded.
The mother explained that her daughter, mistaking it for a henna tattoo, experienced a severe reaction. She shared before-and-after pictures of the tattoo, displaying a shiny black design initially and later revealing irritated, itchy skin with pink welts after seven days. The mother mentioned that her daughter is undergoing treatment with a steroid cream and faces the possibility of permanent scarring from the temporary tattoo.
The issue stems from black henna, which contains a harmful chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD) to achieve a dark color and faster drying time. Unlike natural henna, black henna can cause severe allergic reactions, permanent scarring, blisters, and long-term sensitization to various substances. The mother’s story resonated with others in the group who shared similar experiences of enduring scars and allergic reactions due to black henna tattoos.
Approximately 300,000 British tourists visit Bali annually, with the UK ranking as one of the top source markets for the Indonesian island. In 2024, the UK was among the top five countries in terms of visitor numbers, recording about 295,326 arrivals.