My son, 9, is scarred for life after a holiday henna tattoo caused severe chemical burns
A MUM claims her nine-year-old son’s holiday henna tattoo left him hospitalised with severe chemical burns.
Little Ollie Shakesheff got the temporary inking on a family trip to Turkey last month.
He chose a 4in (10cm) wolf that he had drawn on the left side of his chest, while his brother Charlie, seven, plumped for an outline of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo of the same size on his left leg.
Both were carried out at the TUI-run Pegasos Royal Hotel in Alanya for 35 euros (£30) after successful patch tests.
Initially, the boys were fine. It was only when they returned home from the £5,000 trip having had a henna top-up that Ollie complained of a red, itchy chest that started to ooze yellow liquid.
It’s believed he suffered burns caused by Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) – a chemical commonly found in black henna and dark hair dyes.
After a trip to the GP and hospital, doctors confirmed it was a chemical burn and dressed it and prescribed antibiotics.
Although Ollie is now on the mend, his mum Monika, who was also holidaying with husband Matthew, 50, says her son has been left with an outline of the design that she fears will scar him for life.
Monika, from Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands, said: “Ollie was so excited to have a henna tattoo done but it started to become itchy, red, wet and oozy.
“It was seeping yellow liquid and was a bit infected.
“We tried to wash the design off but it was too late and it just started to get worse and worse.
“Ollie had yellow bubbles filled with yellow liquid and his clothes and bed covers were covered in yellow-red stains.
“In hospital, we were told Ollie had a really strong reaction to black henna.
“What was supposed to be a bit of holiday fun has scarred my boy for life.”
Monika, who owns a family transport and haulage business, is now keen to raise awareness of the dangers of temporary tattoos in a bid to prevent another child going through the same ordeal.
What was supposed to be a bit of holiday fun has scarred my boy for life.
Monika Shakesheff
“Ollie is okay with it at the moment but they have said it could be permanent and he could be left with a white wolf outline on his chest,” she said.
“I feel guilty as a mum. It was just a fun thing to do on holiday and I feel guilty that I let them do it.
“So, before you decide to have your child tattooed, think again.
“A lesson learned for us.”
While Ollie was more severely affected by the black henna design, Monika says her younger son has also been left with red marks where he had his football-themed inking drawn.
She said: “I thought at first maybe it was just Ollie as he has more sensitive skin, but Charlie has some red patches on his skin where the head of the Ronaldo in henna was.
“Charlie’s shows a bit of reaction but it is not as bad as Ollie’s”.
Since the incident, Monika has contacted TUI, which has launched an internal investigation.
A TUI UK&I spokesman said: “We are very sorry to hear about Monika and her family’s experience at The Pegasos Royal in Turkey.
“Whilst black henna isn’t illegal in Turkey, we take the health and safety of our customers very seriously.
“Our health and safety teams are aware of the incident and we will be investigating thoroughly with our resort teams.”