Allergic to PPD? Try henna.

I have specialized in hair color allergies for ten years now. Every day it seems like I get the same request, "Now how will I color my hair? I'm too young to be grey!" There are a few different kinds of color chemicals on the market, none of which are perfect if you have had a reaction. Most people don't realize that a reaction can be as small as itching when you get your color done,  hives, blisters, having your hair fall out, nerve damage, vomiting,  anaphylactic shock, and in rare cases, even death.

 One of the choices I personally love, is henna. It's good for you, it's 100% natural and organic. (if you order from the company I do, mehandi.com) You can even get different colors depending on what you add to the henna, or what you do to your hair after the henna application. In my salon, I offer cassia, henna, amla, and indigo. Today, I decided to share 2 very simple henna recipes.  I get many requests to share them, especially when clients from distances too far to travel need allergy help. Since my blog is getting hits from several countries and the entire 50 states, maybe it can save some typing too. :)

You need to let the henna rest for about 8 to 10 hours, so leave some prep time! Then, you will need to leave it on your hair for a while too, so you need sitting time as well. If you can get a bonnet style dryer, like our grandmothers used to use, heat will but the time in at least half. I personally don't sit under a dryer, that way I can move around and get things done around the house. With heat, for good grey coverage, at least 2 hours. Without heat, at least 4 hours for good grey coverage.

This recipe is for shoulder length, medium texture hair. If your hair is longer, you might need an additional package of henna (100 gms) for about every 4 inches of hair length past your shoulders. Your hair needs to be freshly shampooed when you apply the henna. If your ends feel dry and snarled when you are going to apply the henna, you can apply a conditioner to the ends. You should know that if  pull on a single piece of your hair and it breaks, use conditioner with moisture. If you pull a hair and it stretches on and on, use a conditioner with protein. The henna will actually bond with the protein, and can help seal in the moisture. The henna is only active when it's wet.

What you will need:
100 grams of henna (I use mehandi.com)
Bottled lemon juice (25%) and bottled water (75%) or cooled hibiscus tea (5 tea bags and  40 oz. water)
Glass or plastic bowl
Firm spatula
Color brush (I use one with short stiff 1/2 inch bristles)
A squirt bottle
Plastic wrap, or a disposable elastic plastic cap

You will want to decide which version you want to make first. If you make the lemon juice, I pre-mix in a  glass pyrex measuring cup. I use the same cup for the tea, I boil the water in the microwave, and after I add the tea bags for 2 more minutes. I then let the water cool. I use one or the other. The lemon juice can cover better sometimes, but the juice is acidic and can be harsh on the scalp on some people.

Your mixing bowl can be plastic or glass. Add your dry henna to the bowl, make a small well in the center, and slowly add a small amount of your liquid to the mix. Stir well, and keep adding until the mix is similar to mashed potatoes. If it is too dry, add more liquid, as it will be very hard to rinse out. Cover with plastic wrap, or the plastic cap for 8 to 10 hours.

After the time has passed, remove the cover, and stir the henna. You may need to add more liquid to make a yogurt like consistency.  Place a dot of henna on the back of your hand and check for dye release in 5 minutes. There should be a nice orange dot.

Once your hair is shampooed, conditioned, and you have good dye release, you are ready to go. I generally don't do the usual 4 quarter partings on myself when I do my own henna. I am not sure if this will help anyone, but I start in the middle top, but I move from the front of my head, to as far back to my head as I can easily reach, which is just past the round of my head. I apply the henna from the center of my head, in lines from the forehead to the back of my head, going towards the ear, then back to the top, and towards the other ear. I go over the hair line all the way around. I then split the middle of the back in half, and start on one side, doing horizontal partings, working towards the floor. This makes less work in the back of my head for me. 

You want to make sure you apply the color to the top and bottom of the sections, and apply it very thick. If it is the first time, doing a 2 inch area at the scalp on the first pass is a good start. You can apply it to the ends after the first pass. If your hair gets too dry, use the squirt bottle. If the mixture gets dry, add more liquid. If the mixture feels very sandy, add a touch of conditioner to it. It can help it to rinse out easier. Cover with plastic wrap or a plastic elastic cap.

If you have a table top bonnet style dryer, you can sit for an hour, take a short break, and sit under the dryer again. (I have done this) If you don't have access to one, check your local thrift store, or ask grandma. I happen to have one from both. You can allow the henna to sit for 4 hours and achieve the same effect. I sometimes will heat it up outside the plastic wrap with the blow dryer for 5 minutes at a time once or twice to give it a boost.

When your time is finally up, the best way to get the product out is to get it nice and wet. You want to use warm water, and once you have had the water running on it for a few minutes, then you want to use your hands to begin to massage the henna around the head, beginning to break up the "crust", so it rinses out smoothly. Allow the water to do the work for you, and it will rinse out cleanly. You can shampoo, or just condition it, as I prefer. 

You can add Amla to cool the red a bit. Just mix it into the henna. You can use your henna liquid to mix it, or just plain water. You add it to the henna when you apply.

You can add Indigo to darken the henna. Just mix the indigo with bottled water in a separate bowl with a teaspoon OF SALT. Yogurt consistency. You will add it to the henna when you apply, both the above were used in the photo below. If you apply it in a second, separate application instead of a mixed application, you will get black hair.

 Cassia, a yellow flower, can also be used for lighter hair colors. This is also mixed with an acid, I like chamomile tea. I add the tea very hot, and let it sit for 3 to 4 hours. Yogurt consistency.  I place my client under the dryer for an hour, and it turns grey hair a very soft pale blond color. You can add a sprinkle of henna to make strawberry blond.

The colors you can get with henna and it's organic counter parts are as follows:

Strawberry blond

Copper

Red

Auburn

Brown

Dark Brown

and Black. 

Your hair will be softer than it ever has before. It will be healthier than it ever has before, and thicker than ever! Your reds will never fade, you will wonder why you haven't done it before. Try it! You just might like it.

Want recipes? Try my friends book. I know it sounds like I'm plugging it, I'm not. it's like having me next to you! Just change the vinegar or lemon juice to hibiscus tea. (Christine uses it too now!) 2 tea bags per 8oz of boiling water.
 https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Hair-Coloring-Pigments-Chemical-Free/dp/1612125980

PPD, and Nitros, and Numbers? -oh my...

It has always been known that companies could hide ingredients under other names, especially dangerous ones. The branches that the hair color allergy reaches are so wide, it is almost daunting to try to learn all of the chemistry involved with it. I am determined, and it will not get the better of me. In fact, a new color was just brought to my attention, K pour Karite. This is a direct dye, and AZO dye, or one that you don't mix with a second liquid. A request to search the ingredients for dangers has especially renewed my attentions. There are four numbers in the very first color listed. One of which, CI 12251      is a synonym for this:
 BASIC BROWN 17
JAROCOL, SIENNA BROWN; Basic brown 17 (C.I. 12251);1-(3-Nitro-4-aminophenylazo)-7-(trimethylaminio)-2-naphthol·chloride;8-[(4-amino-3-nitrophenyl)azo]-7-hydroxy-n,n,n-trimethyl-2-naphthalenaminiu;[8-[(4-amino-3-nitrophenyl)azo]-7-hydroxy-2-naphthyl]trimethylammonium chloride;7-Hydroxy-8-[(3-nitro-4-aminophenyl)azo]-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-naphthalenaminium·chloride;2-Naphthalenaminium, 8-(4-amino-3-nitrophenyl)azo-7-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride


People without allergies think that this will be harmless, and apply it. People with allergies think it is harmless and apply it. This is not a laughing matter, in fact, it is a very serious issue.  A systemic response can result in the response shown below. Doctors are very hard to find, because they are not trained to ask,"Did you recently get your hair colored?" They don't offer the T.R.U.E. test. If you wish to have this, you generally have to request it your self. This is just maddening to me. This test is from the FDA, and you have to educate yourself. I am closing this today with more requests for help.

How to shampoo during the reaction, and after.

I often get many requests about how to shampoo after the allergy hits. Some people have scalps that are oozing, like a blister with the top pulled off, others almost like eczema, tight and sore. It can be a constant burning sensation, or itching so bad, you want to scratch your scalp off. Now, the first thing I want to say, I am not a doctor. Consult your doctor first please! I am only a hairdresser, and that and $3.50 will get you coffee at Dunkin Donuts.

There are a few things that you MUST do. Throw out anything that has any color in it. you should use clear products when ever possible. You should not risk anything with dyes, shampoo, conditioner, gels,  anything of this sort. If possible, try to stay away from Sodium Laurel Sulfate, or sulfates in general. They are very drying, and can add to pain, eczema, or itching. Shampoo LESS. I mean as in once or twice a week. Rinse your hair if you must, but stop scrubbing the hell out of your poor head! Give it a rest. (This is not for the poor people with the oozing scalps, or anyone with burning, rinsing with cool water might be the only thing that helps them)

If your scalp is oozing, your doctor should be advising you on what to do. You will probably be on oral steroids, a pretty good dose for a good amount of time. They also sometimes have you on Benadryl, and Zyrtec, but every doctor is different. You should be drinking a LOT of water, and add lemon to help flush your system, if you are not allergic. Lots of green leafy vegetables are good for you, what goes in can help a lot! Stay away from the blow dryer, it is your worst enemy. When you are done oozing, you can move into the next faze, oils.

Oils, are my favorite part. I prefer coconut oil, because it has a mild smell, and a soapy quality to it. it's solid at room temperature, but liquid at shower temperature. Please check to be sure you are not allergic to it! You can use olive oil, almond oil, pretty much anything. I stay away from baby oil, or mineral oil, as they are petroleum based. You can rub them into your scalp the night before you shampoo, and then sleep with them in your hair. In the morning, shampoo them out. They leave a barrier on your scalp, so you are not stripping it so much. Your scalp is not really producing any sebum right now, so it will help your hair feel better too. (It helps everyone's hair feel great!) You can get it at the health food store.

Sometimes I tell people that you can rinse your scalp with 25% apple cider vinegar and 75% water after shampooing. It helps to sooth your scalp, and rinses out the shampoo. I put it in a water bottle with the sport pop top. The vinegar smell is gone when your hair is dry. This is only if you have no oozing!

In my salon, I use Alcame products out of Rochester, NY. They have a line that is called "PURE", it has no sodium laurel sulfate, added smell, color, parabens, grains, glutens, botanicals, or essential oils. This is what I stick with. I do not recommend a particular product, but this is what I use.

I hope that this helps someone out just a little. :)

FDA T.R.U.E. Test for PPD allergies

If you have a problem with hair color allergies, especially PPD, you should begin with this link. PPD stands for Para-PhenyleneDiamine. It is the actual dye in about 90% of the hair color available on the market today. The reaction can be as severe as anaphylactic shock, or as mild as itching when you get your hair colored. HAIR COLOR DOES NOT ITCH! If you go to your doctor, and they don't know what you are talking about, you can at least have the satisfaction of handing them this information when you leave. (Or, educate them, and brave through it)



http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Allergenics/ucm294328.htm

The above link is for the T.R.U.E. test. It is the sub-cutaneous tissue test that allergists and dermatologists give to see if you are allergic to PPD. If you have trouble finding a doctor who has any idea what you are talking about, you can print this out and bring it with you.


Remember, tell your friends. If your head itches when you get it colored, chances are, you have an allergy. 

Safely Patch Test if You are Allergic to PPD or Other Hair Color

Patch testing is very difficult, and most hairdressers don't do it. There IS a reason, but I've never met one who knows why. It's because it doesn't work. All the patch test's that are currently in use do, is protect the color company with one more cushion from being able to be sued. Here's why:

 If you have a client who has never had hair color, then a patch test introduces them to PPD, PTD, or TDS. Then the second exposure, 24 hours after the test, when you color them, THEN they can react. Our system NOW has made up anti-bodies. If you hadn't done a patch test, the client would not have anti-bodies yet. If the client HAS had color before, then the allergy can turn up the second time, or the thousandth. Scientists, chemists, and doctors have tried, but there really is no way to know when a person will react. Well, of course, there is one way to know, because COLOR DOESN'T ITCH.

There are often cases where the clients get dry flaky eyes, but this is not spoken about, or listed in the warnings. Nor is the itching, or the fact that you can go into anaphylactic shock and dye. I believe this is what we should concentrate on changing.

If you get your hair colored, and it itches, you are becoming allergic to it, it will get worse, no matter what. If you know someone who colors their hair, ask them if it itches. If it does, guess what? It's going to get worse, each time they color. This is the one thing that we do know. Once you start becoming allergic, each exposure is cumulative. Your body will react worse with each exposure. We also know that if we were to live long enough, EVERYONE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME ALLERGIC TO HAIR COLOR.

Here is how to try a color with a new base diamine:

You are going to do three tests, 2 days apart. 2 on your arm, and one behind your ear. I have adjusted this, and it's still a working development. Sometimes, I alter this for certain clients if they have a different reaction. Do what works best for you. Make sure you gently wipe the area clean, so that there isn't any perfume, or lotion in the area.

1. Inner Forearm, just below the elbow. Apply the color, mixed properly, for half of the normal processing time. Then wash the area with mild shampoo. There should not be any redness, welts, scabs, hives, lumps, bumps, white areas, or abnormal skin in any way. You should not experience any
 scaling or flaking on your eyelids, drooping eye lids or facial features, abnormal breathing, shortness of breath, mouth itching, tongue swelling, throat swelling, or any skin abnormalities on your neck, shoulders, or trunk. NO ALLERGIC REACTIONS OF ANY KIND. This needs to be watched for 2 full days.

2. Repeat the above directions in the same manner, but increase the time to the full processing time. The same rules apply as to 1.

3. Repeat the above directions, but behind the ear. Change the processing time back to half of the processing time. The same rules apply as to 1. And 2.

If you have any problems, please call 911 FIRST. You should not apply the color when you are alone, as you may not be able to speak if your airway is constricted. If you can not breath, do not drive to the hospital! If you are having any kind of allergic reaction, please call 911, or your doctor. Do not risk your life.

Paid consults are available by email at request. Ginamarietaro@gmail.com prices starting at $120us

Hair Loss from PPD

I have been getting requests about hair loss from PPD. I did some research, and I was able to find very little information on this subject. There was one article on PubMed stating that hair loss can happen from a severe PPD allergy. (Severe Hair Loss of the Scalp due to a Hair Dye Containing Para phenylenediamine.
Ishida W, Makino T, Shimizu T.) For me to explain what I learned from this, and one other article I found, I will explain how hair grows in three cycles.

There are three cycles of hair growth, anagen, or growing, cantogen, or resting, and telogen, or falling out. At any given time, 30% of your hair should be in one of these phases, or moving into one of them. In the article noted above, the patient is diagnosed with severe allergic contact dermatitis, including skin lesions, and this resulted in telogen effluvium. (severe hair loss) This was determined to be from a reaction to PPD. The lesions were severe enough, or the allergy alone caused trauma to the scalp, which has forced the anagen and cantogen cycles to move to telogen. The skin lesions gradually improved after starting treatment with the systemic, or oral, corticosteroids. "The possibility that allergic contact dermatitis from hair dyes may be responsible for telogen effluvium should always be considered in a patient with increased hair loss." This was the end of the article.  I had noted that the skin improvement was mentioned, but the hair loss was not addressed. I don't know why it was not said if it had improved, stayed the same, or worsened. So, we have proof that hair loss from PPD exists.

There was one other article from Germany that I found on EuroPubMed "Idiopathic chronic telegon effluvium in the woman", but I am not sure that it has much more information from what was reported above. One of the most interesting points in the article was that they used information from  based on observation from the sheep wool industry and clinical experience. Sheep?! The treatment had and extra note "They include the use of L-cystine-containing oral preparations and of corticosteroids." Again, no notations on how the results were.

It is very disturbing to me that I have more than 6 requests right now from across the country, one from England, and I do not know what the results are. I can write what I suspect the results are, but I am not a doctor, just a hairdresser. I am just guessing. My GUESS is that the hair grows back, as the articles do not suggest that the problem is permanent. They also do not say that treatment is hopeless, or permanent, or anything dramatic. If you are the one who is losing the hair, that is dramatic enough.

One more note, if you are facing losing some hair and are looking at extensions, look at halo extensions. Anything that will apply traction or pulling on your hair can be detrimental. If you need to, you can always contact me.

Congress, the FDA, and the GAO on PPD

I have been doing some questioning lately, and I have actually been getting some answers. According to Ms. Beth Meyers, of the FDA, the FDA has no authority over PPD in hair color  This has to do with a law passed by Congress, "The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938", which was enacted in part from 107 people dying after taking the Elixir Sulfanilamide, a that was sold as a "healing  tonic". This toxic chemical is now used for chemotherapy. Congress was also moved by Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt's "Chamber of Horrors", which had been a publicized failure of the FDA's ability to remove Lash Lure from the shelves in spite of the fact that several women had been blinded, and there was one fatality. Once the law was passed, they were finally able to remove Lash Lure from the shelves.

Apparently, because of this ruling, which I have not been able to find copies of, hair dye is exempt from FDA approval. In the 1938 law, there was a law passed that you can not dye eye lashes, or eye brows. The rest of the hair is exempt. Ms. Meyers was lovely enough to give me some information to look for, so I went searching, to the Government Accountability Office. I had not heard of this branch before, but the information I found was very interesting. Basically, they had said that they felt that the law should be reviewed again, and that the FDA should have some amount of control over coal tar hair dyes. (or Para-Phenylene Diamine, PPD) They also mentioned several studies that were done, and that they felt that the PPD and cancer situation needed to be studied more. They also said that hair color is definitely absorbed through the scalp, so that it should give the FDA a reason to go to Congress for a repeal of 601 (a) and 601 (e) of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act. The GAO also recommended that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare should direct the commissioner of the FDA to evaluate the safety of coal tar hair dye and require, where applicable, cancer AND OTHER  appropriate warnings on the labeling.  This information is from December of 1977.

http://www.gao.gov/assets/130/120763.pdf

Most people are still un-aware that hair dye can cause cancer. Most people are still un-aware that allergic reactions can send you to the emergency room, and can be life threatening. This includes hairdressers. In fact, it includes most doctors. How to get the word out? I was just reading on the SBA.gov link about educational grants. Maybe of someone was a much better writer than I was, they could apply for a research education grant. A grant to educate the public, the hairdressers, and doctors about this. If the word was out, maybe Congress would listen. That's what happened with Toxic Shock Syndrome and Tampons. They got the word out. They said, I don't want my daughter to die from anaphylactic shock from a tampon. Now, in every box of tampons, there is a note, about this. Even though it's rare, and it might not happen to you, it's in the box. Is it a lot to hope for? Probably.

But a girl can dream.

Another PPD death

April 18th, 2013. A woman who was a daughter, a wife, a mother, gave up her fight for her life after falling into a coma last October. She died not from breast cancer, not from heart disease, or a car accident. She died from coloring her hair. You did not read this wrong, SHE DIED FROM COLORING HER HAIR. She lived in the United Kingdom.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4663539/Tragic-mother-dies-after-year-long-coma-caused-by-hair-dye.html

Many people don't read the tiny note inside the box of hair color where it says, "WARNING, This product contains a chemical that might cause skin irritation. Do not use on eyelashes or eyebrows, to do so may cause blindness"  If you did read that, would you think it could take your life? Would you assume that the skin irritation was an allergic reaction, and that along with that, could come anaphylactic shock, which in turn, can block your airway? You can't call 911, because you can't speak. You can't drive yourself to the emergency room, because without air, well, you most likely won't make it there. If you had proper warning, maybe you could take some benadryl, but it may not be strong enough. Basically, there needs to be a choice. We at least should be allowed to KNOW that this can happen. Yet, the warning label is still just a rash.

PPD, or PARA PHENYLENE DIAMINE has been the number one allergen in Europe since 2006. It is in the top 20 in the United States, yet I continue to get e-mails week after week  from people that they are finding their own diagnosis, and can not find a doctor who has ever heard of it. How is it that a doctor can offer patch testing for allergies, yet not offer the FDA's most current list? I believe that in the U.S. the number of people that are allergic to hair color is sadly under reported. If doctors had the proper information, and hairdressers had the proper information, we would have a fighting chance.

Right now, the warning was put into effect in 1938 by Congress. We would have to fight congress to have this changed, and it would be a tough fight. We may be able to get the allergies on the label, but it might not make any difference. The FDA does not have ANY ruling over this, as I have been in contact with them. I am working with the state on how to educate, it's not looking good. I think the best solution might be through the truth in advertising, and the FCC.

So, that is going to be my next adventure. I am working with the FDA to collect more information. I am going to see how much "truth" there actually is in all of this. If I can prove that these companies know that there is more than a skin irritation, that will help. If I can prove that the TDS colors that claim to be "PPD FREE", are known to have higher cross allergies, and they know it, then we just might have a fight.

Wish me luck! - Gina xx

The allergy had to happen to me?! ...and about that TV

Well, I finally had an allergic reaction to Wella Koleston hair color. This is a Toluene-Diamine Sulfate based color. The industry claimed it should have reduced my chances of developing an allergy. Apparently this is just as I had expected. The whole purpose of the industry wide move to TDS was because it was safer, and there were going to be less reactions. There were going to be less cross reactions. I found information that said 3%, up to 30% would cross react with TDS. I now know it is closer to 60 to 90%, in my experience, depending on the severity of the allergy.

I colored my hair on a Wednesday afternoon, in between clients. I took Benadryl that night because I could not sleep. Late morning, the next day my forehead and the sides of my face itched. (None of my clients said a WORD!) After a few hours more, I finally looked closer in the mirror, and I noticed I had small blisters all over! When I went home for the evening, I took Zyrtec, Benadryl, and smeared it with a drying cream. Friday it seemed less itchy. Saturday morning, BLISTERS! Back on the Zyrtec and Benadryl! I am still taking the Zyrtec, and it seems fine now, but I am going to take it for a few weeks to be sure. I am also drinking lemon water to cleanse my system.  I was very lucky to have a friend of mine remind me that I was having a PTD reaction, and to take some allergy meds, or I would have been even MORE blistered. Sometimes, I am so busy giving out advice, I forget to take it myself! (Thanks Kristi!!)

-and about that television. The Doctors, a TV show that often has information in quick small bits that people actually remember, finally had a PPD bit on a teen and his mom who is a hairdresser. The teen wanted his hair colored, and didn't do a patch test. He took photos of his reaction, and they showed them. The clip was a bit misleading, as it did not explain that you have to be exposed to PPD once before you can react, and did not explain that you can react the second time or the thousandth time. It mentioned to go to the FDA web sight to fill out the form if you have had a reaction.  It did not mention anything about the miss-diagnosis problems, or the lack of doctors who know about this, or can treat this problem. It did not mention that there are multiple ways that you can react, or that there is a T.R.U.E. test that is safe, and can help.  If you have had a problem finding a hairdresser who can help, contact me. If you have had a problem finding a doctor who can help, contact me. I will do my best to get you information that can help.

Gina xx

EDIT - The photo journal of the teen that was on The Doctors is on this blog. Just look for PPD and Teen. That's him. :)

Spring bling...or not to bling. Tattoo information from the FDA

I was just reading my FDA update e-mail that I get once a week, and the education section caught my eye. It said something about the warm weather coming up, and with more skin being visible, here was an update on tattoos. 1 in 8 adults regret getting a tattoo done. I was surprised at this number, as it seems am always hearing about someone getting a new tattoo. I get asked about ink problems with getting a tattoo if you have PPD allergies. I usually reply that a good tattoo artist will be able to give you the M.S.D.S. information on each ink s/he is going to use, so you can read what is in it. The colors to be watchful of are the oranges and yellows. Read on.

The information in this article completely floored me. The FDA considers tattoo ink to be cosmetic, and NONE of them are approved for injection. NONE of them are approved for CONTACT within skin. Some, are even closer to printers ink, or automobile paint?! With spring coming, you might just want to look a little more carefully into what kind of ink is actually going into your skin before you get one. Not everyone will need to worry...

 If you have never had any color allergies, you may not have to worry, there are a lot of people who have had tattoos with no problems. Allergic to diamines, PPD, PTD, AZO's, nitro's, any type of dye at all?  You should take heed. You can never be too careful, or read the backs of too many bottles, or too many FDA articles. If you are one of the sufferers, this information might help.

• FDA considers tattoo ink to be a cosmetic. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none are approved for injection into the skin. In fact, many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint.
• FDA takes action on ink safety issues. Because of other public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety concerns, FDA has not traditionally regulated tattoo inks or the pigments used in them. However, FDA takes action to prevent consumer illness or injury when safety issues arise related to the inks. The actual practice of tattooing is regulated by state and local authorities
  
  www.fda.gov