Applying chemical laced 'mehandi' (henna) on the hands can cause serious side effects including skin infection, doctors said, cautioning girls and women against using it. Meanwhile Mehandi dermatitis cases are on the rise in the city, said Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Gangaram Hospital here. He added "We are getting 8 to 10 patients every day with serious side effects after applying mehandi on their hands”.
Batra told "With the arrival of the festive and wedding season, the number of patients has increased. In the non-festive season, just one or two people come to us in a month with skin infection from mehndi. But after 'karwa chauth', it is on the rise”. Moreover he advised girls and women not to use chemical-laced mehandi as it causes irritation and leaves scratch marks, which can have a life-long impact on the skin.
He added that mehandi agents do not use plain henna but add harsh chemicals to make it darker. Skin infections due to mehandi cause swelling, itching and redness. Batra said that as soon as people notice such symptoms, they should visit a doctor to avoid any serious consequences.
