Bristol boy, aged 3, scarred by holiday henna tattoo
A three-year-old Bristol boy could be scarred for life after he had an allergic reaction to a Bart Simpson tattoo.
Vinnie England was on holiday in Benidorm, Spain, with his family when he got the two-and-a-half inch image of the cartoon character painted on the bottom of his right arm at a henna tattoo street stall.
A few days after returning home, Vinnie began to complain that his arm was hurting.
On inspection, his mother Hayley Shipway found the skin around the temporary tattoo had begun to go red and blister.
Hayley, 24, who lives in Southmead with Vinnie and his four-week-old sister Ruby, said: "His arm felt lumpy and the skin was blistering. There was a red ring around the outline of the Bart Simpson picture.
"I took him to the doctor and they gave him a steroid cream to put on it. The next morning it had got much worse so I took him back to the doctors and as soon as I lifted up his sleeve and showed the nurse her face just dropped.
"It was inflamed and sore, and looked like the Bart Simpson had been scratched into his skin with a pin. It's irritating him like mad and he's in pain if you touch his arm."
Hayley has let Vinnie have children's stick-on tattoos before. Now he keeps saying: "Can you take it off now, Mummy?"
She said: "What can I say to that? It's painful for Vinnie and he feels uncomfortable, but he's too young to realise what the damage may be.
"The ink has faded but we have been told that the scarring in the shape of Bart Simpson may be permanent because he had such a bad reaction.
"I just feel so guilty. People have said it's not our fault, but we let him have it done."
A genuine henna tattoo is meant to fade within 10 days. The ink is usually red/brown or green/brown in colour, but the ink used on Vinnie's skin was black.
Jane Sansom, consultant dermatologist at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We quite often see these cases. These so-called henna tattoos often contain a hair dye chemical called PPD (paraphenylenediamine).
"It is sometimes mixed into the henna abroad because this chemical is cheaper but still dyes the skin.
"It is used at a concentration of about 20 per cent, whereas in hair dye it's only used at about one or two per cent, so you can imagine why this boy had such a bad reaction.
"It does usually cause a delayed reaction and causes a contact dermatitis at the site of the tattoo. This can include redness, inflammation, itchiness and blistering.
"The scar tissue may appear lighter than the skin for some weeks and maybe months after the reaction. It would be very unusual that it would permanently scar the child but he will have a lifelong allergy to this chemical.
"Temporary tattoos from traders using unknown substances should be avoided by people of all ages."
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by michelle, southmead
Friday, October 03 2008, 4:09PM
“i looked at the pic of poor vinneys arm, and i must say ive not seen anythink at all about henna tattoes being dangerous. but i feel there are some very bitter insensitive people out there. We all have to make decisions with our children, and it may not always be the right one, but im sure they didnt do it knowing it would cause him harm. I thought henna was not permanent, so maybe thats why they let him have it done. Hope his arm gets better.”
by Louise, Bristol
Friday, October 03 2008, 1:24PM
“It's not your fault that you didn't know that henna isn't black and that a lot of traders mix it with hair dye (though it has been quite widely reported previousy). However, your son is 3 and I agree with the comment about not putting anything other than sun cream and baby oil on his skin. Letting your 3 year old son have a temporary tattoo, even if it is henna, in the form of Bart wiping his butt does not seem like the action of a responsible parent. I'm not saying you aren't responsible but even if he hadn't had the reaction it's not a nice thing for a 3 year old to have is it?
Please make sure that he is careful with hair dye products, as this reaction could mean he has an allergy to their ingredients now and his next reaction could be much worse.
I hope Vinnie makes a full recovery.”
by andy, wonderfull southmead
Thursday, October 02 2008, 5:23PM
“well hello to all you wonderfull people who felt the need to comment on our son's henna tattoo. This is vinny's mum and dad and we'd like to start by thanking all the people who left their comments wishing vinny well and for understanding that we just made a terrible mistake. we had no idea (obviously) that this disgraceful man had mixed the henna with any chemicals and would never put our children at any intentional risk or harm. Our children are our absolute world and are very much loved. To the lady called katy from bristol who said we were brimming on child cruelty, you are absolutely deluded. The only cruelty to my children is bringing them up in a world with people like you in it, which much to my regret i can do nothing about. As for donut dan, what an absolute loser you are. We are not chavs and anybody who knows us well enough would tell you that. It doesn't matter where we live we would have still let him have it done as henna is meant to be a natural product. To the person who said "all parents know about the dangers of henna" you are wrong. Because we didn't know about it just like many other people we have spoken to since it happened. Now to the matter of our daughter ruby. She was 4 weeks old when we flew out and it was ok'd by the airline and I also had a letter from my G.P. confirming that she was of perfect health and able to fly.(and 'yes' we did put sunscreen on her and keep her in the shade before you hang me for that as well!) Last but not least for all you arrogant people who just assumed that we are going to try and get compensation, you are so wrong. We are not looking for money, just awareness of the dangers that we wish we knew about. We aren't the ones who should be punished for this.
Big kisses from all at southmead. x”
by andy, bristol
Thursday, October 02 2008, 4:24PM
“I think that hayley should not be blamed,i am a relative and i hate the fact that people are putting stupid comments.I am vinnys cousin and it is not hayleys fault at all,how could she have known that their was hair dye in the ink.Stop being stupid idiots.”
by Kate Satherley, Stoke Gifford
Thursday, October 02 2008, 10:04AM
“You people should be ashamed of your comments! You do not know this family and are making snap judgements on very little detail. I have never seen such snobby, rude remarks and I am ashamed to live in the same city as you people. I do not know this family but I am sure the parents had no intention of causing any harm to their child. I for one did not know that these tattoos can be dangerous and by this family talking about this incident they have taught me and probably many others the danger of these tattoos. I only hope that when you all make a decision that turns out like this has then people will judge and comment badly on you.”