A HORRIFIED mum fears her 11-year-old twins have been scarred for life after suffering chemical burns from henna tattoos they got on a dream holiday to Egypt.
Vicki Hawkins jetted away last month with her four kids and boyfriend but says the trip ended in agony for the two boys.
She had allowed the children to get the temporary black henna tattoos at the Hawaii Resort Hotel’s beauty salon in Hurghada, which were topped on their final day.
But the twins, who got matching sleeves, were left screaming in pain when angry blisters erupted on their arms after they flew back home to Margate, Kent.
Vicki said: "[After the itching started] I didn’t think anything of it at first and tried to get them to go to sleep because they had school the next day.
"They didn’t sleep a wink that night and Brad kept coming into our room and crying. I knew something must be bad because they’re normally quite tough.
"By the morning they were blistering and I knew something was seriously wrong."
Holiday treats that can scar for life
BLACK henna tattoos have become fashionable as a temporary, but realistic looking, form of body art.
They are readily available abroad and are sometimes offered in the UK at festivals and fairs.
However, the NHS warns these tattoos can contain high levels of toxic chemical dye, which it is normally illegal to use on the skin.
The paste contains an ingredient called paraphenylenediamine (PPD). In the EU, this chemcial can legally be used in hair dyes – but not for tattoos.
Dr Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, explained: "When applied to the skin in the form of a black henna temporary tattoo, PPD can cause chemical burns and lead to allergic reactions."
In extreme cases, black henna tattoos can lead to swelling, blistering and permanent scarring of the skin.
Black henna tattoos can also increase sensitivity to PPD, meaning you could have a serious allergic reaction to legal hair dyes.
The boys were rushed to A&E where medics confirmed they had a skin reaction caused by chemical burns.
Doctors scraped the skin from their arms and have been applying moisturiser over the past week – with the twins having to repeat the process over the next 18 months.
Vicki said: "I’m living in hope it won’t scar them for life and that their skin will grow into it.
"If by sharing what happened to us we can stop someone else’s children being scarred then it will be worth it."
On The Beach, who organised the two-week package holiday for the family, have confirmed the salon has been closed while they investigate.
A spokesperson said: "On the Beach takes customer health and safety extremely seriously and we work with our hotel partners to ensure that the correct standards and procedures are in place to ensure this."
In June, we told how a five-year-old boy suffered nasty chemical burns from a black henna tattoo on while on holiday in Bali.
And in May, a seven-year-old boy was left with horrific scars after getting a temporary inking done on a family trip to Spain.
Source: Read Full Article