Henna is a dye of natural origin, which is produced from the leaves of the lavsonia shrub. These leaves have disinfectant qualities, therefore they are used in medicine and cosmetology. With the help of henna, various skin diseases are treated, hair, nails, eyelashes or eyebrows are dyed, and body paintings are also done. Henna comes in different shades, from orange to deep red, depending on the origin of the powder, as well as its quality.
Thus, the high quality of the product is achieved by assembling the upper leaves of lavsonia, it turns out to be dark in color and is used to paint the body. The lower leaves are used to make powders and hair dyes. It often happens that a person is allergic to henna, although it is considered a hypoallergenic product. Why is this happening, we will talk today.
Henna Hypersensitivity
Quality henna is non-allergenic, but is currently very hard to find. Basically everyone is facinglow quality products at low cost. Therefore, the question of whether henna causes allergies is quite appropriate. Certain reasons provoke negative reactions of the body, which depend on the method of application of the product. If hair dye is used, the allergy appears immediately, so it is recommended to immediately wash it off with clean water.
For body painting, henna is used with synthetic additives that give it a dark color, such as aniline, urzol or paraphenylenediamine. The latter is considered to be a poison that provokes the appearance of allergic reactions not immediately, but after ten days. Moreover, if the dye is not removed from the skin, the allergy will manifest itself more and more.
Reasons
Henna allergy often occurs due to the use of pesticides in the cultivation of lavsonia, as well as the polluted environment in the places where it grows. They also make a low-quality product by adding components with toxic substances that can not only enhance durability and effect, but also cause negative reactions.
Often, an allergy occurs for the first time, when a person has already used henna several times. This is explained by a low-quality product that may have been caught this time. Or a person has a weakened immune system after an illness. And also often the master unfairly paints with henna, in this case he does not follow the rules for working with it.
Symptoms
The first signs are manifested in the form of nasal congestion, as well as watery eyes,sore throat. Further, difficulty breathing, suffocation, asthma attacks can be observed. Rashes appear on the skin, accompanied by itching and redness. In some cases, vomiting, indigestion and loss of energy occur.
Also, an allergy to eyebrow henna can cause Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock, which requires immediate hospitalization. If henna contains paraphenylenediamine, the reaction manifests itself in the form of swelling, suppuration in the place where the pattern is applied. It has a permanent character and is acutely manifested at night, accompanied by pain. The drawing becomes unaesthetic.
The above symptoms are formed after a short period of time after interaction with the allergen. In some cases, the reaction can occur after a few hours or days. In this case, the consequence may be a change in skin color, the formation of scars, which may not disappear even after treatment. If hair was dyed with henna, in this case a local reaction occurs, accompanied by a rash and redness of the scalp, itching. In the case of repeated staining, the allergy will only intensify, provoking more serious consequences.
In the case of henna tattoos, the allergen enters the bloodstream, causing serious complications listed above. The risk group includes people who have neurodermatitis, acne, asthma, dermatosis, or allergic reactions to plant pollen, wool, and more. Thus, the symptomatology of the disease depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and the method of application.henna.
Diagnosis
If you are allergic to henna, what to do - the allergist will tell you. At the reception, he must be given full information about the state of he alth. A correct medical history is the key to the success of subsequent treatment. Next, the doctor conducts laboratory tests, during which the level of immunoglobulin E in the blood is determined. It is a special protein that the body produces in huge quantities when an irritant enters it, and also eliminates allergen cells, destroying he althy cells, which contributes to the formation of inflammation.
Then allergic tests are carried out. To do this, they take blood and examine it. Or they conduct skin tests, which make it possible to accurately determine the irritant. But this is done if there are no wounds or damage on the skin.
First Aid
If, after visiting a beautician, you are allergic to henna for eyebrows or hair, and swelling and itching form, you must do this:
- The affected areas are washed well with water without soap, as it provokes more inflammation of the skin in case of allergic reactions.
- You need to take an antihistamine, such as Zodak or Suprastin.
- Apply ice to affected areas by placing it in a towel or bag.
When symptoms continue to develop after first aid, a doctor should be consulted. Otherwise, dangerous complications may develop in the form of Quincke's edema oranaphylactic shock. In this case, the doctor injects adrenaline, applies corticosteroids.
Treatment
If an allergy to henna is acute, you should immediately contact a medical facility. The specialist will diagnose and establish the cause of the allergic reaction, which must be differentiated from irritation from a burn that appeared due to synthetic additives in henna.
In order not to consult a doctor, it is recommended to conduct a preliminary test for skin sensitivity to henna. A little paste is applied to the skin and left for one day. If no reaction occurs, then this product can be used. When water is added to henna, it turns green, and after forty minutes it turns brown. If it contains synthetic additives, it will be blue in color or contain irregular lumps. In any case, henna allergy treatment involves antihistamines, as well as antibiotics and hydrocortisone-based drugs. Antibacterial gels and hormonal ointments are often prescribed.
Alternative medicine
In our time, henna allergy can be treated with traditional medicine. In this case, decoctions of calendula, chamomile or sage are used. They wash their faces with these decoctions, rinse their heads, rub the affected areas of the skin, make compresses. The main thing in this case is to know if there is an allergic reaction to pollen, otherwise it can only aggravateposition.
Prevention
Before using henna, it is recommended to test for negative reactions. The solution is applied to the forearm area and left for a day, and then the result is evaluated. It is also necessary to study the composition of the paste well in order to identify the presence of synthetic additives in it. All cosmetic procedures should be carried out only by a trusted master.
