Henna

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 18.05.2025

Dieser Artikel auf Deutsch

Synonym(s)

Lawsoniae Folium; Temporary Tattoo; Temptoo

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please login to access all articles, images, and functions.

Our content is available exclusively to medical professionals. If you have already registered, please login. If you haven't, you can register for free (medical professionals only).


Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please complete your registration to access all articles and images.

To gain access, you must complete your registration. You either haven't confirmed your e-mail address or we still need proof that you are a member of the medical profession.

Finish your registration now

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Red dye obtained from the dried leaves of the dyer's bush. Henna is used to dye hair, skin and nails. Its use as a hair dye or body dye (temporary tattoos) began long before the Christian era.

General informationThis section has been translated automatically.

Today, the powdered leaves are sometimes applied to the hair with paraphenylenediamine (PPD) or in combination with other substances. The color ranges from red-gold-blond to black.

The main compound is Lawson, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, a red naphthoquinone dye with an antibiotic effect. Lawson is present in the fresh plant as a glycosidic compound (hennoside).

It is also used for animal feed, coloring articles of daily use, as a food colorant and fragrance.

Henna dyes wool orange-brown without mordant.

For hair dyeing, henna is mixed with lime and water and applied hot to the hair (permanent dyeing).

The ancient Egyptians used henna as body jewelry, for skin, nails and hair. In India, palm painting is still very popular. Henna is currently experiencing an upswing as a dye for non-permanent tattoos.

Sensitizations caused by pure henna are rare. The allergen is a 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Sensitizations caused by the p-phenylenediamine added to henna are more common.

Complication(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Sensitization through pure henna is rare. Allergen is 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (sensitizing potency: low; sensitization frequency: very rare). Occasionally, immediate type reactions may occur in connection with the use of henna as a hair dye. Note the addition of p-phenylenediamine (see epicutaneous test below) for temporary tattoos with henna; most allergic reactions are due to this addition.

NaturopathyThis section has been translated automatically.

The leaf and root are also used as astringent and diuretic or for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Almeida PJ et al. (2012) Quantification of p-phenylenediamine and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in henna tattoos. Contact Dermatitis 66:33-37.
  2. Boschnakow A et al. (2003) Temporary tattooing with henna induces contact allergy to textile dyes. JDDG 1: 962-964
  3. Davies EE et al. (2007) Para-phenylenediamine allergy from a henna tattoo. Arch Dis Child 92: 243
  4. Jovanovic DL et al.(2009) Allergic contact dermatitis fromtemporary henna tattoo. J Dermatol 36:63-65.
  5. Polat M et al. (2009) Allergic contact dermatitis to pure henna. Dermatol Online J 15:15.

Authors

Last updated on: 18.05.2025

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer