Henna Tattoo Causes Severe Infection and Chickenpox

Dorrit Lugasi's son merely wanted to adorn his shoulder with a henna tattoo in the shape of an eagle. His mother agreed: after all, a henna tattoo disappears after a few weeks and is not a real tattoo (which is forbidden according to Jewish law).

But even though the boy left the store in Eilat where the tattoo was made happy and cheerful, his mother soon grew concerned, as the tattooed area turned red and swollen. Lugasi applied Fenistil in an attempt to treat what seemed to be an allergic reaction, but to no avail. The condition of the affected area only worsened, and the boy required medical treatment.

Following the ordeal they went through, Lugasi posted alarming photos of the shoulder with the tattoo on her Facebook page and wrote: "The area started secreting inflammatory fluid, and the place was open. According to the doctor, a bacterium had penetrated, and the boy contracted chickenpox even though he was vaccinated. As of today, this is how the horror looks; be warned, stay away from this stuff."

Lugasi's doctor also told her that he had treated many cases of henna tattoos causing medical problems. "The doctor said the stores mix henna with tar, and my son's situation is relatively good," she wrote. "Some children come to him with a perforated area; the tattoo perforates the tattooed spot."

Among the commenters on Lugasi's post was a cosmetician named Shmirit, who explained what caused the severe infection: "I work with black henna at home but require the client to do a test first (a small point in a discreet place) to see if there is an allergy. Black henna is not henna! It is a hair dye compound that comes in powder form with oxygen!!! Black henna is not natural henna; natural henna is only red-brown!!!! Don't take risks!!! Check first! Ask to do a test first in a discreet place; it can lead to lifelong scars and severe allergies! Do not play with black henna! In many countries around the world, it is illegal."

"We learned a lesson the hard way," Lugasi concluded her post, "just be careful and take care of yourselves."