Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products, 61 – Colorants in transferable picture tattoos for the skin

Colorants in transferable picture tattoos for the skin

1 Introduction

Decoration of the body with different types of tattoos, permanent tattoos, temporary tattoos, stickers, transferable tattoo pictures for the skin etc. has become a fashion. In permanent tattoos, colorants are implanted into different layers of skin, so that it becomes a permanent art on the skin. Painting the body with suitable materials, for example henna has been used for this purpose for many years in various cultures create temporary tattoos. The temporary tattoos are washed off/worn off in few weeks. Sometimes, the chemical substance p-phenylene-diamine (PPD) is incorporated in henna powder used for creating temporary tattoos on the skin. PPD is a potent allergen, and it can produce strong allergic reactions (1-3). This application of PPD is illegal. Other tattoo types available to consumers are: stickers or figures made of plastic pearls that can be glued on the body, and some special paints for the decoration of the body which can be washed off by soap and water.

Present investigation concerns picture tattoos that can be transferred on to the skin, normally with the use of water. These transferable pictures are used for a short period and they can be washed off. This type of tattoo is also popular among small children. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Danish EPA) has received a few complaints from parents, whose children got skin reactions from the use of picture tattoos. There is only sparse knowledge about the colorants used in the transferable picture tattoos. As these products are used on the skin, they should comply with the Danish Statutory Order on Cosmetic Products/EU Cosmetic Directive (4)

The aims of the present project are to perform a survey of the colorants that are commonly used in the picture tattoos for children, and to investigate whether the contents of colorants in these products fulfil the requirements laid down in the Cosmetic Directive.

The project is sub-divided in three phases: 1) Collection of the products (both those, which are on the market for a short and long period) and check compliance of the labelling on the products with the Cosmetic Directive; ii) perform qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of colour content in a series of samples selected in co-operation with the Danish EPA and to check the compliance of the colour content with the permitted colorants in cosmetic products listed in the Annex 4 of the Cosmetic Directive; and iii) perform risk assessment of the identified colorants with respect to their potential of causing skin allergy.