An American tourist has issued a stark warning after a seemingly harmless temporary tattoo he got on a night out in Bangkok left him with severe chemical burns and facing the prospect of permanent scarring.
A Drunken Decision with Painful Consequences
Content creator Nick Nayersina was holidaying in Thailand when, after consuming several drinks, he and his friends decided to get matching Mike Tyson-style facial tattoos from a street vendor. Assuming the ink was safe, Nick later discovered he had been given black henna, a chemical temporary tattoo containing a harsh dye illegal for use on skin in the US, Australia, and Europe.
"We're in Bangkok and went out last night and for some reason we had the great idea of getting Mike Tyson tattoos," he explained to his TikTok followers. "I didn't know that black henna is illegal in the US and can lead to permanent scarring and infection. My whole tattoo is blistering and oozing."
The Agonising Ordeal and Search for Treatment
What began as mild burning quickly escalated into a painful, weeks-long medical crisis. His skin peeled, blistered, and oozed for days. "It's starting to burn into my face as a scar," Nick reported. The reaction worsened after sun exposure, terrifying him that the damage might be lifelong.
Once back in the United States, the area formed a hard scab. Anxious about a "permanent indent" on his face, Nick sought professional help from Los Angeles aesthetician Sharlena Hassani. She treated him with a gel mask and light therapy, eventually delivering the good news that the scar should fade, leaving him with perfect skin again.
The Hidden Danger in Tourist Hotspots
Nick's painful reaction was caused by PPD (paraphenylenediamine), a chemical dye frequently used in counterfeit 'black henna' tattoos sold in popular tourist destinations. Unlike natural brown henna made from ground leaves, black henna is not natural. PPD is legal in hair dye under strict conditions but is banned for direct skin application in many Western countries.
Even tiny amounts can trigger severe adverse effects:
- Blistering and chemical burns
- Infections and permanent scarring
- Sensitisation dermatitis
- Respiratory issues like asthma and throat irritation
Despite these significant travel health risks, black-market temporary tattoos remain common in Southeast Asia because the dark colour develops quickly and convincingly mimics real ink.
A Common Warning for Summer Travellers
Medical professionals note that incidents like Nick's spike during school holidays and the summer travel period. A dangerous combination of lowered judgement from alcohol, vendors who fail to warn about chemicals, and travellers' incorrect assumption that overseas products are regulated as they are at home, leads to many learning this lesson the hard way.
Nick shared his story to prevent others from making the same mistake. His funny holiday moment resulted in a frantic search for medical care abroad, dealing with pain, swelling, and the fear of permanently disfiguring his face.
Now finally healing, his ordeal has changed his approach to travel: a cheap street-side tattoo might look like a bit of fun, but it can come with serious consequences long after the holiday ends.
