Black Henna Temporary Tattoo: A Case of Sometimes Debilitating Dermatological Complication

In Africa, henna tattooing is generally practiced on the hands and feet during ceremonies such as weddings and baptisms. Many allergic reactions including allergic contact dermatitis have been described, not directly linked to pure henna, but especially to the addition of para-phenylenediamine. We report the case of a 35-year-old female patient who presented with allergic contact dermatitis following the application of a black henna tattoo. A 35-year-old woman presented with very itchy vesiculobullous lesions on the backs of the hands and forearms with a burning sensation 48 hours after the application of a black henna tattoo containing paraphenylenediamine (PPD) vesiculo-bullous, edematous lesions which sat at the tattoo site and exactly followed the initial design on the hands and forearms. The diagnosis retained was contact dermatitis allergic to black henna. Black henna tattooing is an ancient practice, responsible for a large number of allergic contact dermatitis due to the various products mixed with henna. It is therefore important that there be information, especially among young people, about the skin risks of this practice.