A mum from Australia shared horrific photos of her son’s skin rash after she allowed him to have a black henna tattoo done while on vacation in Bali.
Jessie Kingscote issued an admonition to parents about this popular temporary tattoo after Riley, four years old, began experiencing rashes a month following the application.
Ella, his seven-year old sister, also had a henna-tattoo but she didn’t get an infection.
Riley, who has returned to Perth from his whole life in Australia, was rushed several times to the hospital. The rash spread to the body Due to infection.
Following a nightmare night, the mum-of-2 became frantic and rushed her son into hospital.
After experiencing every parent’s worst nightmare, Ms Kingscote shared her terrifying story.
Last month, Henry and Jessie Kingscote gave their children Riley and Ella black henna tattoos during holidays to Bali.
Riley now has a rash all over his body after a month.
Daily Mail Australia reported that the poor boy was very uncomfortable, and had difficulty sleeping due to the body rash from the infection.
“I panicked, thinking it had got into my bloodstream. This really scared me.
“Even though I went to the hospital, I don’t feel at peace.”
Riley was then referred by an emergency dermatologist for a mild allergic reaction.
After the tattoo, he didn’t notice a change in his skin until twelve days later.
Riley was already symptomatic of Covid-19 by that point.
Ms Kingscote recalls that there was initially redness, but it then started to blister up and get more aggressive.
“Somedays it seemed like it was improving, but then it became worse.”
Prior to having children, Ms Kingscote knew about potential dangers of tattoos with henna in Bali.
Unlike natural henna, which is a orange/brown in colour and won’t stain your skin, black henna contains a chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is a known irritant and allergen.
Riley developed an allergy 10 days after Riley’s back henna tattoo.
After a restless night, Riley was taken to the hospital by his mother.
Although PPD can be found in many haircare products, such as sunblock and hair dyes, it is usually only in small amounts.
A lifelong scar may be caused by bubbly blisters from black henna.
PPD added to henna has been deemed a public health problem, because this allergenic chemical frequently causes hypersensitivity reactions among children like Riley.
Ms Kingcote explained, “It didn’t pass my time at all, or else I wouldn’t risk it,”
“They didn’t give any warnings. Not even regarding the need to rinse it off afterward.”
She is now warning people about henna inks, no matter how natural they are.
Daily Mail Australia spoke out to say, “Steer clear from them, it’s just not worth it,”
Find something different for them to do like braid their hair. “We definitely will”
Riley could have a permanent scar.
She laughed and said, “We joke about him being 21 but still having it and that he got it when he was 4,”
“He believes he is cool with his bad-boy tattoo, just like his father.”
Ms Kingscote sent a photo of Riley’s arm to the “Bali Bogans” Facebook page. She warned others to not take the risk’ with henna Tattoos. These temporary designs are popular among Bali holidaymakers and children.
Riley now has an allergic reaction to Riley’s henna tattoo, which is also visible on his legs (pictured).
She wrote Wednesday, “This photo was taken fifteen days ago, just two weeks after I applied. It has since got worse,”
You can say, “I’m an idiot. I know!”
She said she´d previously seen a warning about henna reactions, but didn´t think of it while her son was getting one in Bali.
She said, “Even while I was watching the son finish it, it totally slipped me mind.”
“So, just to refresh anyone who might already know. Don´t risk it.’
The post received hundreds of shares and comments. She shared a disturbing update in the comments.
Ms Kingscote said that she thought bepanthen would solve the problem and they’d be on their way, but this is not true.
“If this full-body rash persists as it did in the past two hours, we may be headed to the hospital. We really need to understand what this stuff is doing to his body. He’s just 4 years old.
Riley’s rash fifteen days after he got the henna tattoo. Since then, the rash has spread to other parts of Riley’s body.
The rash spread two weeks later to his legs (pictured).
Ella (pictured on holiday in Bali) was unaffected by her black henna tattoo. But her brother, right (right), wasn’t as fortunate.
Kingcotes is one of thousands who have been flocking to Bali, Indonesia in recent months to see the island welcome back tourists.
Avoid temporary tattoos with black henna while traveling to Indonesia.
SmartTraveller warns that the dye can often cause serious skin reactions.
The Facebook post by Ms Kingcote sparked many other horror stories.
One woman stated, “I did this on my first Bali trip when I was 10 years old.”
“I was exactly as this picture, except worse. It took years for the scars to heal. These scars would have been more apparent when I was sick. I´d never recommend anyone to get it done.’
One other wrote, “I didn’t know anything about it and had my entire hand and forearm done by Seminyak.”
“It was so fortunate that nothing happened, or else I would have to take my arm out.”
Many thanked Ms Kingscote and expressed gratitude for her warning.
One person said, “Thanks for sharing your experience and reminding people not to get henna tattoos,”
The Perth family (pictured) are warning others about the dangers of black henna tattoos
Riley, his father jokes about the family’s bad tattoo.
After allowing her sons temporary tattoos in Bali, Mum has to face the worst: “When we returned to Australia, the horror began.”
After her sons got temporary tattoos from Bali, a horrified mother warned other parents about the dangers of letting her children get them.
Elena Kovalenko was accompanied by Phillip Saenko, her husband, and their sons Luke, age 8, and Adrian (age 6). They arrived in Bali for a family holiday, July 27, with Phillip and Elena.
While the family was staying in the Grand Hyatt Hotel Nusa Dua, they purchased temporary tattoos from a local night market. They paid $30 for three nights of temporary henna to their sons.
Ms Kovalenko admitted that the boy’s irritation at henna tattoos for skinburns was something she had regretfully dismissed. Instead, her focus was on Phillip Saenko (pictured), who sustained injuries in Bali and needed treatment.
After getting temporary tattoos with henna while on Nusa Dua in Bali, Ms Kovalenko’s boys, Luke (8 and Adrian (6 years old), suffered chemical burns to the skin. (pictured: Adrian’s leg and Luke’s arm left)
A mother of two from Melbourne said that her sons get temporary tattoos whenever they go on holiday. But this was their first one done in Bali.
Daily Mail Australia was informed by Ms Kovalenko that “they (Luke, Adrian) had done it in Russia, Thailand, and the Gold Coast before, so we didn’t think twice about it and agreed to do it again,”
“Luke, Adrian and Adrian decided on their tattoo designs. They sat down and were ready to get tattooed.
Ms. Kovalenko claimed that the Balinese vendor was able to apply temporary tattoos in 30 minutes, rather than the 20 second spray-and-stamp’ process.
Luke and Adrian both complained of a burning sensation as the night went on. Ms Kovalenko said she regretted dismissing it as sunburn since the entire family had been out in the sun for the day.
Ms Kovalenko explained that she didn’t notice the tattoos of the children because her husband was hospitalized and injured in Bali while they were there.
Ms. Kovalenko stated that she didn’t hesitate to grant her sons a temporary tattoo because they had previously been inked on the Gold Coast, Russia, and Thailand. (pictured: Luke and Adrian during a Bali safari).
Ms Kovalenko was shocked to see the faded tattoo five days later. It revealed painful red welts that ‘itching’ and ‘burning’ on Luke’s arm, and Adrian’s legs where it had been.
Ms Kovalenko stated, “When we returned (to Australia), the horror started.”
“The dye was removed and looked almost like chemical burns.
“The children were crying because it was burning and itching. We went to the pharmacy and were given creams that they applied immediately on their skin.
After the pain seemed to have worsened, the distraught mother took her sons to Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
Adrian and Luke were prescribed steroids by their doctors, who warned them that tattoos can cause permanent injury.
“If this were just one child, then I would believe it to be an allergy. But, it is two children with different skin types. I am shocked,” Ms Kovalenko stated.
“My children don’t have allergies but will always have terrible scars!”
Ms Kovalenko claimed she shared her story to inform parents and kids about temporary tattoos. She also called for the banning of ‘black-henna’.
Ms Kovalenko explained that everyone knows not to consume tap water in Thailand or Bali and also about the robbery facts.
“The media is awash with stories about foot and mouth diseases, but I’ve never heard about black henna.
It’s dangerous. This could even pose a threat to your life. This should make people aware and should be stopped.
Ms Kovalenko posted a photo of Adrian’s burning to the ‘Australian Bali information for travelers’ Facebook group. It has been viewed over 150 times and received more than 150 comments. Most of these are from other travellers who have had similar experiences.
“My son’s temptain lasted 6 years. I tried many different creams, and had to go to the doctors. Never again,” one user said.
Another user shared the following: “The same happened to my son, and he still bears the scar. That was twenty years ago.”
“This is what happened to me.” The third person chimed in that she now suffers from a severe allergy to PPD (black color), and can’t colour her hair.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises travellers in Indonesia to avoid temporary black henna tattoos as they can cause ‘serious skin reactions’ (stock image, Temple Street in Nusa Dua, Bali)
According to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, travelers should avoid temporary black tattoos in Indonesia. These tattoos ‘often contain dyes which can cause severe skin reactions.
Different cultures have used henna for many centuries. It is usually brownish or orange-brown and made by grinding the dried henna leaves.
The traditional henna can be used in temporary tattoos safely and has few allergic reactions.
However travellers are warned to avoid ‘black henna’ as it typically contains para-phenylenediamine or PPD – a black ink found in hair dye.
The skin can experience severe adverse reactions such as redness and itching.
