Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) — Research for Safe Work
Reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Dermatology. All rights reserved. Please note that the slides are very large JPEG files that will take up to 6.5 minutes to view or download using a 28.8 kbps modem.
Mechanical Dermatitis
Cuts, abrasions and punctures in the skin caused by thorns, spines and hairy appendages of plants. These injuries can become secondarily infected with bacteria, mycobacteria or fungi.
Irritant Dermatitis
Reaction in the skin caused by irritating chemicals in the plant. These chemicals include acids, proteolytic enzymes and calcium oxide crystals. This is not an allergic reaction.
- Slide 3 - Irritant dermatitis from spurge plant.
- Slide 4 - Spurge (Euphorbia franckiana).
- Slide 5 - Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia marginata).
- Slide 6 - Philodendron (Philodendron callosum).
- Slide 7 - Croton (Codiaeum variegatum).
- Slide 8 - Anemone (Anemone japonica).
- Slide 9 - Clematis (Clematis x "Ville de Lyon").
Phytophotodermatitis
Skin reactions are caused by furocoumarin chemicals in the plant and exposure to Ultraviolet A sunlight. Blisters form in a few hours after contact with the plant and sunlight. Hyperpigmented skin develops in the affected area when the blisters have healed and may last for months.
- Slide 10 - Lime oil phytophotodermatitis.
- Slide 11 - Lime oil phytophotodermatitis.
- Slide 12 - Wild parsnip phytophotodermatitis.
- Slide 13 - Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).
- Slide 14 - Bishop's weed (Ammi majus).
- Slide 15 - Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota).
- Slide 16 - Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzanium).
- Slide 17 - Gas plant (Dictamnus albus).
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis requires previous sensitization to low molecular weight compounds in a plant. Not everyone develops an allergic reaction to these compounds. The most common plant causing this reaction is poison oak or ivy. The large family of plants, Compositae, contain chemicals called sesquiterpene lactones, which are sensitizers and irritants. Most of these rashes are chronic, eczematous rashes as compared to the severe blisters that develop from contact with the poison oak or ivy plants. Allergic contact dermatitis is the least common type of plant reaction except for problems with poison oak or ivy.
- Slide 18 - Poison oak or ivy dermatitis.
- Slide 19 - Poison oak or ivy dermatitis.
- Slide 20 - Skin cross-section, subcutaneous tissue.
- Slide 21 - Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
- Slide 22 - Leaf of the Ginkyo tree (Ginkyo biloba).
- Slide 23 - Ovule of the female Ginkyo tree.
- Slide 24 - Artichoke (Cynara scolymus).
- Slide 25 - Yarrow (Achilles millefolium).
- Slide 26 - Burdock weed (Arctium lappa).
- Slide 27 - Goldenrod (Solidago virga aurea).
- Slide 28 - Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).
- Slide 29 - Cornflower plant (Centaurea montana).
- Slide 30 - Dahlia plant.
- Slide 31 - Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
- Slide 32 - Fleabane (Erigeron philadephicus).
- Slide 33 - Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
- Slide 34 - Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora).
- Slide 35 - Laurel (Laurus nobilis).
- Slide 36 - Tulip bulb rash on the fingertips.
- Slide 37 - Alstroemeria rash in a florist.
- Slide 38 - Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria aurantiaca).
- Slide 39 - Chronic hand dermatitis from handling plants.
- Slide 40 - Geranium (Pelargonium zonale).
- Slide 41 - Airborne contact dermatitis from sawdust.
- Slide 42 - Red pine (Pinus resinosa).
- Slide 43 - Needles and pine cone of red pine (Pinus resinosa).
- Slide 44 - Western red cedar (Thuja plicata).
Contact Urticaria or Pharmacologic Injury
Urticaria (hives) develops after contact with the plant or plant material. The reaction can be allergic or non-allergic. In the non-allergic type reaction, irritant hairs on the surface of the plant enhance penetration of the pharmacological materials into the skin. These chemicals include acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin. The reaction can last for a few hours.
The allergic type reaction can result in swelling of the mucous membranes (eyes, lips and throat) with generalized urticaria. Individuals with atopic dermatitis are more prone to this type of reaction. Most of these reactions are caused by latex proteins, garlic, onions, tulips and lilies in susceptible people.
