Pain and scarring: Warning over chemical filled black henna tattoos

Holidaymakers are being warned about the nasty side effects and long-term scarring that can be caused from black henna tattoos.

James Colley, 18, went to Zante after finishing his exams earlier this month and decided to get one.

As a boxing fan, he chose a similar style tattoo to Mike Tyson, who has a distinctive pattern on the left hand side of his face.

However, James's became infected and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors told him that he could be left with facial scarring for up to five years. He said the only option was to have the henna bleached off.

James told Sky News: "I went on a lads' holiday. Two days in I saw people getting henna and thought it was a good idea... but it flared up and when I turned up at the hospital she laid me down and told me to relax.

"She bleached the skin and said 'we can stop now if you want'. The pain was really bad, I thought I was going to pass out.

"I would say if you want to get a henna tattoo do your research. Get it done in a proper place with brown henna. It's not worth the risk of getting it bleached off. The pain isn't worth it. It's not."

Traditional brown henna tattoos are usually harmless, but the black ones sometimes contain chemicals, that can react with the skin.

Of 288 dermatologists who took part in the Skin Health Alliance 2017 Dermatologist Survey, 72% said they thought the number of incidents where patients had reacted badly to black henna tattoos was increasing year on year. Now there is a warning from the British Skin Foundation.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Anjani Mahto said: "I think the best advice really would be that you're best not getting them, simply because you do not know what is in a lot of these products outside the UK.

"You can't predict who is going to get a reaction and who is not, but if there is any risk of black henna or black henna dye, then its best avoided."

When he returned from his holiday, James tweeted a before and after picture of his tattoo, hoping to warn others about the possible side effects. It has now been shared more than 14,000 times.

Farrah Illahi, who is a henna teacher and runs Visible Changes beautician in Cardiff, said: "Basically people should have a skin test before getting henna.

"With black henna, because there are chemicals in it, you can get a reaction. But with natural or organic henna you can't get an infection so I advise people to get that one."

For James, what started out as a bit of post-exam holiday fun with friends turned into something far more serious.

He now wants others to learn from what he's been through.