Are Temporary Tattoos Dangerous?

Sarah Lifestyle

We all love temporary tattoos. They make all our parties special, whether we’re celebrating July 4th or Halloween. Temporary tattoos are a quick and easy way to turn into a scary warrior or an outlaw biker.

But are temporary tattoos dangerous?

A report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a couple of years ago suggested that certain ingredients often used in temporary tattoo production could have lasting side-effects. This sparked a lot of controversies and discouraged a lot of parents from getting temporary tattoos for their children.

But is there any truth to these allegations?

Yes, but it mainly refers to manufacturers using ingredients that have not been approved by the FDA.

The most popular type of temporary tattoos is water transfer or press-on decal tattoos. In most cases, these temporary tattoos are completely safe since the FDA regulations require them to use only pigments that are safe for use in cosmetics. These pigments are both non-allergenic and non-toxic, making them perfectly safe for adults and kids alike.

If you want a guarantee that a temporary tattoo won’t cause you or your children any harm, buy them from licensed, FDA-approved vendors like TattooFun.com. If you buy temporary tattoos elsewhere, chances are you might stumble upon tattoos made with unsafe ingredients.

The rule of the thumb is to look for the ingredients on the packaging. If the ingredients are not clearly stated, you could risk serious allergic reaction and permanent scarring.

A lot of Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers do not indicate the ingredients used in production, mainly because their tattoos contain ingredients not deemed safe by the FDA.

Are Permanent Tattoos Safer than Temporary ones?

Permanent tattoos are generally considered safer compared to temporary ones. While both involve injecting ink into the skin, permanent tattoos go through a rigorous sterilization process and meet strict safety standards. On the other hand, temporary tattoos often consist of lower quality materials and may not be subject to the same level of regulation, which can raise concerns about safety and hygiene.

So, if you are unsure about the safety of temporary tattoos, you may prefer to stick to permanent ones. When opting for a permanent tattoo, it’s important to choose a design carefully, and websites like www.tattoosai.com can help you find a design that suits your preferences and style.

Are Henna-Based Temporary Tattoos Safe?

Another common type of temporary tattoos is henna-based ones. These tattoos usually contain no additives and allergic reactions to pure henna are very rare. Therefore, henna tattoos are safe to use in most cases.

However, another type of henna tattoos, the so-called “black henna” tattoos could prove to be dangerous. FDA warns that these tattoos could contain a potentially harmful ingredient used to dye the typically reddish Henna black or blue: paraphenylenediamine or PPD. FDA further warns that this ingredient is only safe when used for dying your hair.

The use of PPD for temporary tattoos is completely banned in Canada. PPD is known to cause allergic reactions and chronic inflammatory issues. Even worse, the symptoms could manifest long after the tattoo was applied.

What about Metallic Tattoos?

Metallic temporary tattoos are a huge trend for adults, mainly festival goers. They feature reflective, metallic stickers that give off an illusion of wearing jewelry. The same safety concerns we went over for decal tattoos apply here as well. Metallic tattoos sold by respectable companies like Tattoo Fun meet all the FDA regulations and requirements and are therefore safe to use.

Temporary Tattoo Kits?

Finally, there are a lot of temporary tattoo kits also available on the market. These kits include special tattoo paper, adhesive and sponges used to apply these tattoos. You use an inkjet printer to print out the temporary tattoos.

A lot of manufacturers that produce temporary tattoos in small quantities use this method as well. However, since you cannot know if the ink used for printing them is safe or if it contains harmful materials, these could also prove unsafe.

Therefore, you should always check the packaging to see if the ingredients are indicated there. It is very important to know what kind of ink was used in their production, as it is the only way you could know these tattoos are not toxic.

To Sum Up

The FDA does not approve temporary tattoos specifically, but rather the ingredients used in their production. If the ingredients were deemed safe by the FDA, then you can use temporary tattoos without having to fear for your or your children’s health.

The only way to protect your health and guarantee the quality of the temporary tattoo is knowing which ingredients are safe, which are not and which vendors and manufacturers you can trust.