CtrlK close

Are you a healthcare professional

GO TO DERMNET PRO

Home
Topics A-Z
Images
Cases
Skin checker
Translate
Jobs
Give feedback

Main menu

Home
Topics A-Z
Images
Cases
Skin checker
Translate
Jobs
Give feedback

Common skin conditions

Acne Athlete's foot Cellulitis Cold sores Dermatitis/Eczema Heat rash Hives Impetigo Psoriasis Ringworm Rosacea Seborrhoeic dermatitis Shingles Vitiligo

NEWS

Join DermNet PRO

Read more

Quick links

Skin checker

Try our skin symptom checker
Home
divider

Topics A-Z
divider

English ivy
toggle glossary topic information print
English ivy — extra information
Synonyms:
Hedera helix
Categories:
Reactions
ICD-10:
LC25.5
ICD-11:
EK02.05, EK00.7
SNOMED CT:
44131004, 200821000, 402579004, 10628711000119101

Reactions

English ivy


Author: Hon A/Prof Marius Rademaker, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand,1999.

Common name:

English Ivy

Botanical name:

Hedera helix

Family:

Araliaceae (ginseng family).

Origin:

Originally from temperate Europe where it was found in woods and hedgerows. Commonly found growing on trees, walls and sides of houses.

Description:

A woody evergreen plant which often grows as a creeper. Five lobed green leaves although a number of variegated cultivars exist. Yellowish green flowers may be seen in autumn. Black globular berries.

 

 

Uses:

Extracts from english ivy have been used as tonics, expectorants and as poutices for bruises.

Allergens:

Falcarinol (a diacetylene; heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diyne-3-ol) and didehydrofalcarinol.

Allergy:

Both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis has been reported from contact with English ivy, usually after pulling off creepers from walls, trees, etc. However, it has been reported in children following contact by climbing in trees covered with ivy.

Cross reactions:

Other information:

Patch test:

References

  • Lovell CR.1993, Plants and the Skin, Blackwell, Oxford.
  • Mitchell JC, Rook A, 1979, Botanical Dermatology, Plants and Plant products injurious to the skin, Greengrass, Vancouver.
  • Yesudian PD, Franks A. Contact dermatitis from Hedera helix in a husband and wife. Contact Dermatitis 2002 Feb;46(2):125-6.
  • Oka K, Saito F, Yasuhara T, Sugimoto A. The allergens of Dendropanax trifidus Makino and Fatsia japonica Decne. et Planch. and evaluation of cross-reactions with other plants of the Araliaceae family. Contact Dermatitis 1999 Apr;40(4):209-13.
  • Oka K, Saito F, Yasuhara T, Sugimoto A. The major allergen of Dendropanax trifidus Makino. Contact Dermatitis 1997 May;36(5):252-5.
  • Elliott, C. 1995. The ivy debate. Horticulture March:21-23.
  • Garcia M, Fernandez E, Navarro JA, del Pozo MD, Fernandez de Corres L. Allergic contact dermatitis from Hedera helix L. Contact Dermatitis 1995 Aug;33(2):133-4.
  • Johnke H, Bjarnason B. [Contact dermatitis allergy to common ivy (Hedera helix L.)] Ugeskr Laeger 1994 Jun 20;156(25):3778-9. [Article in Danish]
  • Massmanian A, Valcuende Cavero F, Ramirez Bosca A, Castells Rodellas A. Contact dermatitis from variegated ivy (Hedera helix subsp. canariensis Willd.). Contact Dermatitis 1988 Apr;18(4):247-8.
  • Gafner F, Epstein W, Reynolds G, Rodriguez E. Human maximization test of falcarinol, the principal contact allergen of English ivy and Algerian ivy (Hedera helix, H. canariensis). Contact Dermatitis 1988 Aug;19(2):125-8.
  • Hausen BM, Brohan J, Konig WA, Faasch H, Hahn H, Bruhn G. Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis from falcarinol and didehydrofalcarinol in common ivy (Hedera helix L.). Contact Dermatitis 1987 Jul;17(1):1-9.
  • Guin JD, Skidmore G. Compositae dermatitis in childhood. Arch Dermatol 1987 Apr;123(4):500-2.
  • Boyle J, Harman RM. Contact dermatitis to Hedera helix (common ivy). Contact Dermatitis 1985 Feb;12(2):111-2.
  • Mitchell JC. Allergic contact dermatitis from Hedera helix and Brassaia actinophylla (Araliaceae). Contact Dermatitis 1981 May;7(3):158-9.

Other recommended articles