A YOUNG girl could be scarred for life after suffering a serious allergic reaction to a holiday treat.

Jasmine Robbins, aged 10, was in fashion when she had a black henna tattoo painted on her lower back, while on holiday with her sister Ellie, eight, and parents Kim and Jason in Portugal.

But the 10 euro (£6.80) treat left her in pain and on medication, with her mother Kim regretting that she allowed her eldest daughter to have the four-inch tattoo in Villamoura.

"Part of me feels really guilty for letting her have it done," said her mum. "You don't know it's going to have this sort of effect. I want to make other parents aware of the harmfulness of it."

When the body art was first put on, Jasmine of Springdale Road, Corfe Mullen suffered no reaction.

But within two weeks the skin raised up and began to weep and itch.

"The rash travelled down her body and it affected her eyes. It looked like a burn. It just went from bad to worse. She's suffered quite badly," said Mrs Robbins.

Her family doctor diagnosed an allergic reaction and she was put on antihistamines, steroid cream and eye-drops.

But it was not until Mrs Robbins did some research on the internet that she learnt that while the henna itself was harmless, a black chemical dye called PPD had caused the reaction.

Under strict European rules, tattooists are breaking the law if PPD makes up more than six per cent of the black henna being used - and doctors have found the worst scars caused where the chemical was too concentrated.

But an allergic reaction to what is black hair dye is quite rare and many doctors have not come across one.

Jasmine will have to avoid tattoos, cosmetics and hair dyes which contain PPD.

"There is a strong possibility she will be scarred," added Mrs Robbins.

First published: September 11