Mother fears daughter, 7, will be ‘scarred for life’ after reaction to holiday henna tattoo that left butterfly design burned onto arm

A mother-of-two fears her seven-year-old daughter will be ‘scarred for life’ with a butterfly print on her arm due a reaction to a henna tattoo while on holiday.

Kirsty Newton, 37, let daughter Matilda Newton get the 3cm-tall temporary tattoo on her right forearm while staying at an all-inclusive Turkish hotel last month.

Despite initially appearing fine, the black henna tattoo became red and itchy after they returned home to Pudsey, West Yorkshire, resulting in two pharmacy trips.

Matilda was later rushed to hospital after the skin around the tattoo started bleeding, with doctors confirming that she had suffered an allergic reaction to a chemical in the henna.

She is now urging others to be cautious when letting their children get henna tattoos and to make sure they have a skin test first.

Kirsty Newton, 37, let daughter Matilda Newton (pictured) get the 3cm-tall temporary tattoo on her right forearm while staying at an all-inclusive Turkish hotel last month 

Despite initially appearing fine, the black henna tattoo (skin pictured after tattoo) became red and itchy after they returned home to Pudsey, West Yorkshire, resulting in two pharmacy trips

Matilda (pictured with her family in Turkey) was later rushed to hospital after the skin around the tattoo started bleeding, with doctors confirming that she had suffered an allergic reaction to a chemical in the henna 

When the family-of-four returned back to the UK, Matilda’s butterfly print began causing a burning sensation on her skin.

The family made a few pharmacy trips in a bid to manage the reaction themselves.

But Mrs Newton rushed Matilda to Leeds General Infirmary when her skin started to crack and bleed.

Doctors there confirmed Matilda was having an allergic reaction to the black henna.

The paste is used to paint patterns onto the skin and are available abroad and at some shops, stalls and festivals in the UK. 

She was prescribed anti-allergy tablets, steroid and antibiotic creams to help heal her scorched skin.

Before getting the medication, Matilda was sick and had a rash on her tummy, which doctors say could have been linked to the allergic reaction. 

Mrs Newton believes that the burn was caused by paraphenylenediamine (PPD) — a chemical commonly found in black henna and dark hair dyes.

While PPD can be lawfully used in hair dyes, levels are strictly controlled. But black experts warn that black henna often exceeds these amounts to give a darker colour.

Mrs Newton (pictured) is now urging others to be cautious when letting their children get henna tattoos and to make sure they have a skin test first

She worries the allergic reaction will leave an outline of the butterfly shape on Matilda’s (pictured) arm for life

She worries the allergic reaction will leave an outline of the butterfly shape on her arm for life.

Mrs Newton said: ‘It worries me that it’s a very visible place on her arm.

‘We weren’t informed it was black henna, the tattoo stand just advertised henna tattoos.

‘The doctor said abroad they put more pigment in their dyes because their laws are not the same as in the UK.

‘The hospital said it was an allergic reaction to the black henna used and she won’t be able to use hair dye when she’s older.’

To raise awareness about the dangers of black henna Mrs Newton posted photos of Matilda’s butterfly burn on social media.

She claims the hotel didn’t offer a skin test prior to painting on the black henna outline.

Mrs Newton said: ‘Please be cautious when letting your children get henna tattoos.

‘People need to know what happened and make sure they have skin tests done if they do have a tattoo before having one of these done.

‘Matilda should have had a skin test done before but this wasn’t offered.’