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New Delhi: The widely-used cosmetic may have some nasty side-effects, indicates a study.

Henna dye may be linked to high rates of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in Emirati women, according to a new research conducted by a university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Women in the UAE are almost two times as likely as men to have leukaemia, while they were also 63 per cent more likely to be affected than expatriate women, reports The National.

The researchers arrived at their conclusions after looking at 263 cases of AML and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

The study also demonstrated that the rate of AML among UAE nationals was 78 per cent higher than in expatriates.

According to Dr. Inaam Hassan, an associate professor at the UAE University, chemicals in henna dye and a lack of sunlight could be the reason behind the increased incidence, reports Xinhua.

She said: "I could not understand the results because men and women live in the same environment; they eat the same foods and breathe the same air.

Hassan added: "The only difference was the use of henna."

It may be noted that many modern henna dyes use synthetic chemicals like benzene to produce a deeper colour.

It may be noted that many modern henna dyes use synthetic chemicals like benzene to produce a deeper colour

Henna ingredients may cause cancer
Posted Apr 3rd 2006 9:48AM by Heather Craven
Filed under: Prevention

Henna tattoos are a popular body decoration for children and adults alike. Artists often host booths at fairs where children can step in and get anything from a butterfly to Chinese symbols emblazoned on their body parts. Kits for home use are available at specialty stores and are fairly simple to use. The advantage of henna tattoos is that they offer a temporary bit of tattoo glamor, are painless and wash off within two weeks. The main ingredient in henna is hydroxynaphthaquinone which is obtained from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. Hydroxynaphthaquinone alone is not carcinogenic, but when combined with para-phenylenediamine (PPD) the mixture has been documented as causing problems. PPD is a synthetic dye used to accelerate the drying time of the henna mixture, darkens the overall tattoo and allows for more precise, detailed images.The chemical has been documented to cause severe blisters, skin rashes and scars. In 1979 the US National Cancer Institute labeled PPD as a possible carcinogen due to a high incidence of liver cancer in workers at PPD production plants. Not all henna artists or henna kits use dye with PPD, if the resulting tattoo is an intense dark black and lasts for more than several weeks, it likely contains the undesired ingredient.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cites PPD as a contact allergen, and should not be directly applied to the skin. When used in hair dyes, it may cause mild contact dermatitis on the forehead, eyelids or ears — wherever it comes in contact with the skin. Reactions usually only occur while the dye is oxidizing, versus once it has already oxidized, as is the case with dyed fabrics and furs. People who regularly work with PPD can develop allergies to it, and must take certain precautions to avoid coming in contact with it. Although the most common absorption of PPD into the body is through the skin, it can cause allergic reactions when it is inhaled, or absorbed by the eyes or ingested.

One of the most dangerous applications of PPD is when it is added to henna, a natural dye. When used for temporary tattoos, henna laced with PPD is known as “Black Henna.” Although this is not an approved use for PPD in the United States, some tattoo artists will illegally add the chemical to henna for darker temporary tattoos that dry faster than pure henna tattoos. Because the dye is applied while the PPD is in its oxidation process, its potential as an allergen is increased. Black Henna tattoos often result in a skin reaction similar to a chemical burn, which in turn results in a scar where the skin was tattooed.
When added to henna, the concentration of PPD is often much higher than what is approved for use in hair dyes, resulting in a minor to major allergic reaction. Once a person who has been exposed to PPD has an allergic reaction, they may suffer a lifelong sensitivity to the chemical.

What is PPD and what is its connection to henna?

PPD is the main allergen identified in allergic reactions to decorative skin paintings.
Para-phenylenediamine is a colourless/slightly pink, grey or yellow crystalline solid (lumps or powder). On oxidation, usually through exposure to air, it turns red, brown then finally black. PPD is essentially a dye and chemical intermediate.

It may also been found in textile or fur dyes, dark coloured cosmetics, temporary tattoos, photographic developer and lithography plates, photocopying and printing inks, black rubber, oils, greases and gasoline.

PPD is a low toxicity diamine used as a component of engineering polymers and composites, aramid fibers, hair dyes, rubber chemicals, textile dyes and pigments. PPD is selected for the outstanding properties it imparts, including high temperature stability, high strength, and chemical and electrical resistance.18

Some particularly atrocious misinformation twists have led to PPD being described as a black mineral from the banks of the River Nile. This gives PPD an undeserved distinction as being both natural and exotic. Obviously, anyone who proposes this myth, knowing its falseness, is not only lying, but purposefully harming people.

PPD gained infamy from being an ingredient, used either pure or as an “additive” to henna, to create or give henna a black tattoo-like appearance. This is due to the ‘fad’ quality of henna as a temporary tattoo. Traditional artists and traditionally trained artists are aware that the words “henna” and “black” do not go together:

“Henna gives an orange/reddish-brown stain. Any product that calls itself black henna must contain an ingredient in addition to pure henna to achieve its ebony color. In most cases, this added ingredient is PPD, that is also found in many black hair dyes. Another reason for using PPD additives is to speed up the tattooing process. While traditional henna staining takes 2-12 hours, a pure black tattoo can be achieved within an hour or two with the addition of PPD, and there will be a longer lasting effect as well.
The findings of a mass spectrometry analysis of commercial black henna performed by Chung et al. demonstrated a major peak at the mass-charge ratio of 108.1, which corresponds exactly to the molecular weight of PPD. There was no line at the molecular weight 174.2, that of the active agent of pure henna. This was the first sophisticated, scientific proof of what almost every tattoo artist or supplier had known for years.”

In other words, there is no such plant as or plant that gives “black henna” and here we see scientific proof that it is the chemical called PPD that makes this phenomenon. It’s nothing to do with henna at all, other than a piggyback ride from a legitimate and healthy art form turned into a marketable and highly profitable scheme that harms people. Luckily, there are people speaking out on this to make the people who manufacture, sell and use PPD to be held liable for what they are doing.

An important factor to remember about PPD is that it is cheap. You can buy very cheap black hair dye and mix it with henna (or use it pure if you are that much of a @#$%!) and make lots of money. However, caveat emptor to anyone reading this with ulterior motives- I can guarantee you won’t make enough to cover your butt when you are sued.

Berrin wrote:It looks like our prophet has encouraged it..If it was harmful I am sure he would have received revelation about it..