Hundreds of women developed rashes and skin irritation after applying henna or mehendi ahead of the Id-ul-Fitr festivities in many places in the state and in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Nearly 200 women from Vijayawada developed rashes on Monday night after applying mehendi for Id. Eight women from Guntur old town were treated at Guntur Government General Hospital. Similar complaints were received from Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur districts.
Sources said the allergies may have been caused either by certain chemicals in the mehendi or due to use of old stock. The police has taken four persons into custody at Vijayawada for selling expired mehendi cones and has sent samples for chemical analysis. “Within 20 minutes of applying mehendi on her hands, my five-year-old daughter complained of itching in her palms. I washed it off, but an hour later her skin began breaking out in red patches. She began to cry because it was burning and itching,” said Shafee Khan.