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Home Topics A–Z Plant dermatitis
Authors: Created 1997. Updated: Hana Numan, Medical Writer, New Zealand. Copy edited by Gus Mitchell. October 2021
Plant dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by topical contact with a plant or plant constituent.
Phytodermatitis is the formal medical name for plant dermatitis, and it may be an irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, or phytophotodermatitis.
Contact urticaria and mechanical irritation can also be due to plants.
Common plants that cause dermatitis
Plant dermatitis can affect anyone in contact with the specific plant component including the sap, bark, wood, leaf, stem, flower, pollen, or fruit. Exposure may be:
Plant dermatitis
Plant dermatitis should be suspected clinically on history and examination. Tests may be undertaken to clarify or confirm the diagnosis.
Plant dermatitis is usually self-limiting provided further contact with the implicated plant is avoided, although postinflammatory hyperpigmentation may persist for weeks or months. A true plant allergy persists lifelong.
Some forms of contact are unavoidable such as in airborne compositae allergy and a chronic photosensitive dermatitis may follow.
Books about skin diseases
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