Woman warning against Black Henna releases photo of reaction

WARNING: Graphic Image.

A woman is urging people not to get a "Black Henna" tattoo on holiday, after her daughter suffered a reaction.

Sophie Akis decided to have the temporary tattoo after being approached by a street vendor on the beach during a holiday with her family in the seaside resort of Agadir, in Morocco.

The 22-year-old, who was on holiday with her husband and other relatives, even opted to have her skin tested and waited 24 hours before paying the equivalent of £4 for the popular temporary inking.

Now Sophie's mum, who was on holiday with her daughter at the time, has issued a warning to holidaymakers, saying:

Wendy from Yardley Wood, Birmingham, said within hours her daughter 'was in a mess' with her hands swollen and 'blistered'.

Wendy, a housekeeper, said:

56-year-old Wendy, said that as soon as her daughter and husband landed in Turkey where the couple now live, they went straight to their local hospital.

Medics there said it was an allergic reaction and gave her an iodine solution to bathe her hands in every 10 minutes for two days as well as a cortisone cream. Wendy said:

The mum-of-four urged those travelling abroad to think twice before opting for the inkings which in many cases are not henna at all, but a substance called para-phenylenediamine which can cause blistering, painful skin burns and may even lead to scarring.

The British Skin Foundation has launched a campaign to #AvoidBlackHenna as summer approaches.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, meanwhile, also issued a warning confirming that ‘having a ‘black henna’ temporary tattoo presents a significant risk of a very nasty adverse reaction to the tattoo itself.’

Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton is backing a British Skin Foundation campaign to #AvoidBlackHenna as summer approaches.

Upon returning from a holiday in Morocco, her son Alfie aged six was left with a scar on his leg where the tattoo had been.