Henna: Multifaceted by Sara Malik* Keywords: henna, hair, culture, plants, South Asia, contact dermatitis, dermatology Henna is a dye that is prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis that has been used for centuries to dye skin, hair, fingernails, and fabrics and can be found in hot climates. Henna has many useful properties as a cooling agent and anti-bacterial herb. The antimicrobial activity of henna is attributed to the free hydroxyls that can combine with carbohydrates and proteins in the bacterial cell wall; the hydroxyls may attach to and inactivate the enzyme sites of the microbes.1 The art of henna is a widespread cultural practice in countries in North Africa … Continue reading
