Pediatria pre prax 6/2011

Long-term risk of tattoo in children

Allergic contact dermatitis to paraphenylenediamine has been increasing also in children in recent years. Sensitization is caused by black henna application as a temporary tattoo in past, mostly as a souvenir from summer holiday. Allergic reaction may appear in sensitized patients also few years later, after second application of the same allergen – for example after hair dyeing. Many products for hair dye and black henna contain paraphenylenediamine as one of their components. The allergic reaction develops in patient after 24 – 48 hours after application to the skin. In part of scalp where hair dye was applied appears an erythema, inflammation, vesicles, swelling, itching, periocular and face swelling. Case report describes severe allergic contact dermatitis to paraphenylenediamine accompanied with face swelling after hair dying of three inpatients in our clinic. All of them had had a henna tattoo during summer holiday in past. All of them coloured their hair with different kinds of dark colour containing paraphenylenediamine. Standard skin patch tests have confirmed in all patients strong allergy to paraphenylenediamine (+++). Tests have confirmed also cross-allergy to local anaesthetic: benzocaine (++) in two of these patients.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis, paraphenylenediamine, black henna, tattoo, hair dye, cross-allergy to benzocaine.