Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Published on: September 26, 2022
Childhood allergic contact dermatitis from henna tattoo
I Neri1, E Guareschi, F Savoia
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Abstract:
Henna is a shrub cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, and North Africa; it is used, mixed with other substances, as a hair and body dye. Several cases are reported in the literature of sensitization to para-phenylenediamine (PPD) contained in the henna tincture, but few of these are pediatric cases. We report two instances of allergic contact dermatitis due to temporary tattoos in children. In one case a patch test was positive for PPD. We suggest that the fashion of temporary henna tattoos in children is to be discouraged due to the serious consequences that a sensitization to PPD could have in their future.
Related Concept Videos
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Allergic Reactions
Hypersensitivities
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions
Allergic Drug Reactions

