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DD 18 black henna tattoo with health anxiety

14 replies

Threewordseightletters · 23/08/2023 22:50

My DD18 is on her first girls' holiday after A levels with a group of friends. She suffers with generalised high anxiety especially around worries about her health and food. She has sent me a WhatsApp showing she has had a small black henna tattoo on her ankle. I am aware of the possible dangers and risks of these; DD is not. Despite having covered numerous risks ( dangers of drinks being spiked, sunburn, riptides etc) this was one I hadn't anticipated. What should I do? Do I warn her or say nothing until she gets home bearing in mind that saying something is likely to provoke a full on panic attack many miles from home. Also does anyone know how likely it is that black henna will trigger a bad reaction? How worried should I be?

OP posts:
littlejo67 · 23/08/2023 23:09

She is 18 and away on holiday. Don't say anything, she is an adult.. You sound like you are over anxious as well and thinking of the worst scenario.

Henddraig · 23/08/2023 23:13

The risk is a second exposure isn’t it? I think you can’t use box dye if you’ve used black henna. (Or am I misremembering?)

thaegumathteth · 23/08/2023 23:17

Jesus OP chill out. She's 18. She's not even had a reaction. Do you have anxiety because it very much sounds like it!

anotheranotheranotheranother · 23/08/2023 23:22

She suffers anxiety and you are considering saying something completely unnecessary to her that will trigger anxiety Confused

FinallyHere · 23/08/2023 23:28

Are you sure it's your DD who suffers from anxiety: your reaction suggests quite a lot of anxiety to me.

Have you had any help with that for yourself ?

AuntieEsther · 23/08/2023 23:30

Unless you can get her to wash it off before it dries then say nothing - what would be the point?

frazzledasarock · 23/08/2023 23:34

If she was going to have an allergic reaction then she’d have had it already.

so leave it.

is it black henna or is it the henna still drying on her skin? Natural Henna is black and falls off to reveal an orange/reddish hue normally.

Threewordseightletters · 23/08/2023 23:35

I am definitely coming down on the side of saying nothing at the moment as that will 100% definitely trigger anxiety and panic whilst the risk of an allergic reaction is less likely. I'm just interested in how big a risk it is. There's lots online (including reliable sources like the British Skin Foundation) which suggest having a black henna tattoo is a very dangerous thing to do.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 23/08/2023 23:41

Absolutely do not say anything- if she has an allergic reaction, with her already high Healy anxiety she will notice it and act on it straight away. You telling her, when she's abroad with friends, that it might have a reaction and she'll be permanently scarred is a guarantee that she will melt down. I do t know why you'd even consider that!

Pallisers · 24/08/2023 00:02

say nothing. She will be fine. If she reacts, then she will get medical help - or call you and you will tell her to get medical help.

Mind you I did warn my children at a very early age (like primary school) never to have a henna tattoo of any kind - they used to be a kids party thing at one point and I wasn't going to parse whether they were black or red henna - just told my kids to say they were allergic.

I thought the main risk was an allergic reaction to hair dye later on.

WorseDecision · 24/08/2023 00:04

Don't take this the wrong way but it's a no brainer why she has anxiety when you behave like this.

Threewordseightletters · 24/08/2023 00:15

WorseDecision · 24/08/2023 00:04

Don't take this the wrong way but it's a no brainer why she has anxiety when you behave like this.

Not sure there is a right way to take it! Tbf every PSHE lesson is filled with telling students about different risks which is something my DD has taken very to heart. She also has had various actual unlucky diagnosed health things in the last few years which has made her (and me?) more hyper vigilant

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 24/08/2023 00:18

It's really worrying you are even considering telling her tbh - what would it achieve??

anotheranotheranotheranother · 24/08/2023 07:36

Threewordseightletters · 23/08/2023 23:35

I am definitely coming down on the side of saying nothing at the moment as that will 100% definitely trigger anxiety and panic whilst the risk of an allergic reaction is less likely. I'm just interested in how big a risk it is. There's lots online (including reliable sources like the British Skin Foundation) which suggest having a black henna tattoo is a very dangerous thing to do.

Why have you been researching this online though? Surely most parents would juts say 'that's nice dear' and get on with their day?

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