[Henna symbolic tattoo and real dermatitis].

INTRODUCTION: Henna, or Lawsonia inermis, has been used since antiquity by women in the Orient for dyeing the hair, hands, and feet. Contact dermatitis to pure henna is very rare, most often caused by additives such as perfume oils or paraphenylenediamine (PPD). We report the case of a girl who presented contact dermatitis to henna associated with eczema to draw attention to the dangers related to its use.

CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old girl developed erythematovesicular and edematous lesions with very itchy burning, suggestive of contact dermatitis, 48 hours after application of black henna. Lesions were located at the tattooing site exactly following the original design. The patient also had eczema lesions on the left cheek after contact with the tattooed hand. The lesions were improved by treatment with level II corticosteroids.

DISCUSSION: Today, henna has become very popular in Western countries. PPD is added to reduce the fixation time or to obtain a darker color. It can cause severe systemic reactions. The most common allergic reaction is contact dermatitis. Treatment is based on topical steroids. Better legislation on temporary tattooing practices and control preparations as well as regular annual information aimed at the general public are essential.

CONCLUSION: This observation raises awareness of the importance of information on the serious risks of a labile tattoo, most particularly for the young.