A mother was left horrified after her twin sons suffered chemical burns from temporary black henna tattoos while on holiday that may leave them scarred for life.
Vicki Hawkins, of Garlinge, Margate, travelled to the Hawaii Resort Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt with her four children and partner Kirk Hawkins last month.
On the first day of their two week stay, she allowed the children to get non-permanent henna tattoos from the hotel’s beauty salon.
Vicki told how there were initially no problems – until the last day when the salon offered to top up them up for free.
Mum Vicki Hawkins, of Garlinge, Margate, travelled to the Hawaii Resort Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt with her four children and partner Kirk Hawkins last month, where the youngsters all got temporary black henna tattoos
After the family landed back in the UK, the 11-year-old twins developed huge bulging blisters on their skin and rushed to A&E.
There a doctor confirmed the cause of the skin reaction to have been caused by chemical burns and advised the boys to keep their arms moisturised for at least 18 months.
Since then Vicki revealed on Facebook that her other two children – daughter Bethany and son Matthew – are now experiencing similar symptoms as a result of their black henna tattoos.
The holiday package had been put together by On the Beach, a web-based booking website which is investigating the incident and has temporarily suspended bookings to the hotel.
After the family, pictured on holiday in 2018, landed back in the UK, the 11-year-old twins developed huge bulging blisters on their skin and rushed to A&E
Speaking to KentLive, Vicki said: ‘The man who did them was very nice and said if we came back on the last day of the hotel he would top them up for free.
‘My two 11-year-old twins got matching sleeve tattoos. There wasn’t any problems until we had them re-sprayed before we left.’
Vicki recalled how the twins started to complain their arms were itchy, and within hours of being back at home, huge blisters began to form.
‘I didn’t think anything of it at first and tried to get them to go to sleep because they had school the next day,’ she added.
Vicki recalled how the twins started to complain their arms were itchy, and within hours of being back at home, huge blisters began to form
‘They didn’t sleep a wink that night and Brad kept coming into our room and crying.
‘I knew something must be bad because they’re normally quite tough. By the morning they were blistering and I knew something was seriously wrong.’
Vicki, who works nights as a carer, immediately sought medical advice as the condition of her sons’ skin deteriorated.
The outline of the tattoo had left the skin pink, raw, and flaking.
She said: ‘The pain eventually go so bad that I had to take them to A&E, who said it was an allergic reaction and chemical burn.
Vicki, who works nights as a carer, immediately sought medical advice as the condition of her sons’ skin deteriorated
‘They skinned their arms of the blisters which was hard to watch as a mother. Then they dressed their arms and moisturised them.
‘We’ve been going to and from the hospital all week to have it reapplied and even then it’s likely to scar them. They’ll need to keep their arms moisturised for at least 18 months.
‘I’m living in hope it won’t scar them for life and that their skin will grow into it.’
On Sunday Vicki shared an update on Facebook revealing her other two children are now suffering with their black henna tattoos.
‘Don’t think I’ve ever dished out as much paracetamol ibuprofen and antihistamine… or had all FOUR of them in tears and pain,’ she wrote.
Vicki said she is ‘living in hope’ that the chemical burns don’t leave her children scarred for life
The mum-of-four believes it’s important to share their story to urge other parents to think twice about getting black henna tattoos
‘Bethany’s and Matthews has now started to react and burn their skin. Back to the hospital tomorrow.’
The mum-of-four believes it’s important to share their story to urge other parents to think twice about getting black henna tattoos.
‘If by sharing what happened to us we can stop someone else’s children being scarred then it will be worth it,’ she said.
A spokesman from On The Beach said: ‘On the Beach takes customer health and safety extremely seriously and we work with our hotel partners to ensure that the correct standards and procedures are in place to ensure this.
‘We are currently investigating this report, and the property will be taken off sale while this takes place.’
Femail has reached out to On The Beach and the hotel resort for comment.
On Sunday Vicki shared an update on Facebook revealing her other two children are now suffering with their black henna tattoos. Pictured: Matthew’s burn