Camilla Parker-Bowles became the latest to fall victim to the lure of the henna tattoo last week.

Whilst on a trip to the island of Zanzibar, the Duchess was seen to duck into a tent out of the shade, and emerged sporting a henna tattoo on her hand.

She was told that the design would only last a day or two but now, well over a week later, she is still struggling to get rid of the design, saying: “The less said about that the better! I didn’t feel I could refuse and it was rather beautiful…I just can’t get it off. I have tried scrubbing and everything…nailbrushes, you name it. I just don’t know what to do.”

Henna works by staining the surface layers of skin, then as the skin sheds, the staining is shed with it. How long this takes will depend on what type of henna is used (black henna lasts longest but has been known to cause some nasty reactions), how long it is left on for and where on the body it is.

You can read more about this story and more at the laserase blog: http://www.laserase.com/blog/camilla-comes-a-cropper-with-hen/