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.
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 36
Tulip bulb handlers develop a hyperkeratotic and fissured eczematous rash on the pulp of the fingers. The allergen in tulips, tulipalin-A, is present in all parts of the plants but has the highest concentration in the bulbs.
Return to Phytodermatitis Index or Dermatitis Educational Material.
Slide 37
Fissured fingertips result from stripping the leaves from the Alstroemeria plant. The major allergen is tuliposide-A which is converted to tulipalin-A. There are cross reactions to the tulip plants.
Return to Phytodermatitis Index or Dermatitis Educational Material.
Slide 38
Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria aurantiaca).
Return to Phytodermatitis Index or Dermatitis Educational Material.
Slide 39
Fissuring of the fingertips and eczematous rash on the sides of the fingers from handling plant material.
Return to Phytodermatitis Index or Dermatitis Educational Material.
Slide 40
The allergen in the geranium (Pelargonium zonale) is a compound called geraniol.
Return to Phytodermatitis Index or Dermatitis Educational Material.
