We do everything we can to protect our children from harm, but sometimes accidents happen beyond our control.
When our little ones are in pain, it’s heartbreaking for us as parents. They are innocent and vulnerable.
Picture being a parent unintentionally causing pain to your own child due to lack of awareness about certain things.
A father from England experienced this firsthand. While on vacation in Egypt, he allowed his 7-year-old daughter to get a black henna tattoo. This decision has left the young girl likely scarred for life.
The ordeal unfolded when the mother, Sylvia Gulliver, had to be hospitalized in Egypt for a bladder infection. During her two-day hospital stay, the children were with their father and were well-behaved.
To delight their children, dad Martin promised them a reward. Seven-year-old Madison opted for a black henna tattoo, inspired by seeing it on other tourists during their trip.
She got permission from her dad and had the tattoo done on her hands and arms at the hotel where they were staying. Her 9-year-old brother Sebastian also received a henna tattoo but washed it off promptly when it started to irritate his skin.
Madison chose to keep her tattoo, but it later began intensely itching once they returned to England.
Situation worsened
However, things took a turn for the worse. The itching became unbearable, leading to painful blisters and burns on Madison’s skin caused by a chemical called paraphenylenediamine found in the ink.
The situation escalated when Madison had to see a specialist at the hospital. She now bears scars that will remain with her for life.
Girl, 7, left with horrific chemical burns and blistered scars after getting black henna tattoo in Egypt https://t.co/RJ6fXhgog5 pic.twitter.com/0O04XkUfQ7
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) August 16, 2017
“She may be scarred for life after this black henna tattoo,” Martin shared with Daily Mail.
“The tattoo was done in the hotel salon, and they claim it wasn’t the henna that caused the scars on my daughter’s skin. She has blisters from her fingers to her elbow and is in a lot of pain. We were not aware of the dangers, and they should warn guests about it!”
“It’s partly my fault because I knew nothing about this. But it’s also the hotel’s responsibility to alert us to the risks of these chemicals on children. We assumed the travel agency would have informed us.”
“We need to raise awareness about this now among others!”
Madison is undergoing specialized treatments for her scars and will need to wear a bandage for six months to minimize the damage.
I never realized these henna tattoos could pose such risks. Despite seeing many children with them, you wouldn’t imagine they could be harmful as shown in the photos above.
Let’s support Sylvia and Martin in spreading this information to other parents by sharing this article. You never know if a friend’s child might face a similar situation.
