|
|
|
Henna is commonly used in many cultural groups to decorate the body for special occasions. This East African patient applied henna to her feet to celebrate Ramadan. Henna comes in a range of colors from black to reddish brown and orange. When applied to the fingertips, black henna has been found to interfere with measurement of oxygen saturation from a fingertip. A similar interference is not found with the red or orange types of henna. In newborn infants there is enough transcutaneous absorption of the active agent in henna, lawsone (a potent oxidizing agent), to produce hemolysis of red blood cells and indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Henna often is combined with para-phenylenediamine (PPD) to enhance the color. PPD can be very toxic if ingested or absorbed from large body area applications. It causes angioneurotic edema, renal failure and circulatory collapse.
More Henna: Contact Dermatitis