A mother has given a serious caution to vacationers and parents following her daughter’s burns from a holiday incident that may result in lasting scars. The concerned Australian woman shared a warning about temporary henna tattoos during her trip to Bali, Indonesia, where her daughter had a negative reaction after getting a mini-break tattoo on the beach. She posted before and after pictures of her daughter’s henna tattoo, revealing that the dye had almost vanished within a week.

The mother revealed that her daughter underwent a course of steroid cream and is slowly recovering as doctors are concerned that the temporary tattoo could leave a permanent scar. Unlike natural henna, which does not stain the skin, black henna contains a toxic chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD) to achieve a darker color, quicker drying, and longer-lasting effect. Black henna with PPD can lead to severe allergies, permanent scarring, blistering, and long-term sensitization to hair dyes and other substances, as recounted by other individuals in the group who shared their own distressing experiences.

British tourists, including approximately 300,000 annually, are frequent visitors to Bali, with the UK ranking among the top countries contributing visitors to the Indonesian island. In 2024, the UK was in the top five countries for tourist arrivals, with around 295,326 recorded visits.

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