Mehendi (henna) tattoos and allergy

If you are likely to attend the Mehendi (henna) ceremony at your friend’s wedding, think again. The intricate, hand stenciled designs could give you something you didn’t expect – an allergic reaction like redness, inflammation and intense itching.

Natural henna powder has been used since thousands of years and is perfectly safe for the skin. Henna powder is usually mixed with water or tea to create a paste that gives the tattoos their distinctive reddish-brown or orange color. The allergies associated with pure henna usage are extremely rare. Mehendi tattoos are temporary though, and fade away in 2-3 weeks. However as no needles are used here, this is much safer than the permanent tattoos. But it is not entirely risk-free as many people tend to believe and allergies can occur when other substances are combined with it.

You have to ask the artist before getting tattooed about the exact ingredients used in the mehendi paste. Sometimes the artists mix a chemical para-phenylene diamine (PPD) used in hair dyes to get a darker shade which makes the tattoos last for several months. Called as black mehendi, this can be harmful for your skin. The research conducted by Dr Bjorn Hausen, of the Dermatological Centre, in Buxtehude, Germany, has shown that henna containing PPD causes contact dermatitis and makes the skin swollen, red and itchy. He adds that the tattooed skin could also become hypersensitive after the tattoo fades off.

That’s why it is better to avoid black Mehendi. Though pure Mehendi is quite safe, some persons might experience an itching sensation if lemon juice is used as an ingredient in the paste; this is usually done to get a darker shade. If you are doubtful of the contents in the Mehendi paste, avoid getting tattooed. Getting a henna tattoo from a street-side shop or buying a mehendi cone from such shops is always risky as you never know of the ingredients that are mixed with it. Always take a skin test before tattooing if you have never tried it before. This is what the skin specialists recommend. Apply a small amount of it to the hidden area of the skin and wait for at least 48 hours to see whether a reaction occurs. If redness or itching develops after a mehendi tattoo, call a doctor immediately.

Update (Aug 10, 2010): Read how nine-year-old Thomas Collins who got temporary henna tattoos ( black henna that had  PPD) while on holiday in Turkey, suffered a severe allergic reaction to the black dye and has been left with permanent scarring on both his arms. And since then he has developed allergies to certain medications, including some local anaesthetics, and is now allergic to everyday items such as printer ink, rubber boots, lawnmowers, squash balls and even sun cream, all triggered by the initial reaction in Turkey.

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Pic credits: amazon.com

Are you overdoing it?

You believe in living in style. You always buy and wear only expensive designer clothes, go out of your way to perm, curl/straighten, color or streak your hair, never venture outdoors without makeup, you always see to it that you are always with makeup even at home and so on and so forth. In this venture, you are always up on your toes and constantly readjust your clothes, touch-up your make-up to ensure that nothing is out of place and everything’s just right. In trying to keep up with this, you are always ill at ease and it shows! (People are sharp enough to notice your discomfiture…) In all probability, you come across as a high-strung and insecure woman who is lacking in some sphere but is compensating for this by focusing all her attention on dressing and dolling up. This in itself shows that you are miles away from that elusive thing called ‘style’.

Sure, one has to look good, wear make-up, dress well but there is no point in getting hung up on it all the time. If you look around you, you will find women who are least bothered about their clothes, makeup or hairdos but who are completely focused on what they are doing. They have adequate self-esteem and carry themselves with grace and dignity. This invariably makes them attractive to others. They are the ones who are ‘stylish’ in the true sense.

Face packs for any skin type

Do try some of these face packs which suit all skin types.

Milk face pack

Ingredients:

Milk

Method:

Soak a cotton ball in milk and gently rub it on your face. Wash off after sometime.

Almond face pack

Ingredients:

Almonds 2-3
Milk

Method:

Grind almonds in milk and apply this on your face for 10-15 minutes. This also helps to get rid of blemishes and tans. Also brightens your complexion.

Banana face pack

Ingredients:

Bananas
Milk

Method:

Put ripe banana and milk in a blender to get a pulpy paste and apply it on your face and neck.

Yeast and milk face pack

Ingredients:

Brewer’s yeast – 1 tsp
Sugar – ½ tsp
Warm milk – ½ cup

Method:

Mix all the ingredients well and keep the mixture for 5-7 minutes so that it ferments. Then apply it for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water and then splash cold water on your face.

Apricot face pack

Ingredients:

Honey – 2 tsp
Apricot pulp - 2 tsp
Almond oil – ½ tsp
Lemon juice – ½ tsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and apply this paste. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash off. Gives a firm, taut skin.

A poll

Just spare a few minutes to participate in a poll. This poll is specially for e-mail subscribers of this blog as well as for the future subscribers. Sometimes it can be frustrating to get e-mails every single day when the blog is updated. So I wanted to know whether you would prefer a weekly notification instead of a daily update mail. Turn your attention to the sidebar and cast your votes. Your opinion matters.

Update: Poll is closed. See results here.

Weekend Beauty Read

This week's best posts from the beauty blog network. Read and Enjoy!

• Makeup Moxie reviews the new Revlon Mineral Makeup.
• Savvy Skin tells you how you can Get a $125 Wrinkle Cream for 99 Cents.
• makeup loves me helps you achieve the gossip girl look , xoxo.
• Beauty and Personal grooming tells you about some terrific foot soothers
• Check out A Touch of Blusher's wish list for the new Calvin Klein makeup line, available now at Sephora.
• Girl Gloss shows you how to create a cranberry red lip look using three CoverGirl lip products.
• Face Candy shows you the newest beauty trend: Moody Lip Glosses.
• Stylish Opinion says to say it with chocolate.
• Missed the premiere issue of The Beauty Ideal? Check out the most popular article so far....
• Canadian Beauty tells you what brushes to apply your mineral makeup with.
• Temptalia has a tutorial on how to get an amazing neutral eye with a pink kick!
• The Muse reviews Benefit's Thrrob Powder!
• Spoiled Pretty turns her brown eyes blue . Find out how…
• 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic finds a cure for her winter skin issues!
• Beauty Anonymous brings you an innovative way from Japan! Prettia Bubble Hair Coloring uses foam to dye hair fast and evenly
• Glossypink takes a look at Spring Beauty looks from the Runway!
• The Beauty of Life is so ready for spring after testing out the new Sugar Coated line from Orly!
• All Lacquered Up tests the claims of the "As Seen On TV" product, the PedEgg Pedicure File.
• Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you a sneak peek of Origins Spring Makeup Releases, complete with color swatches and product pics galore.