Preventing Skin Irritations Caused by Plants

By: Cari ElofsonEnvironmental Health and Safety Department

657.278.7233 (S-A-F-E)

Common Plant Irritations

• Irritating plants can cause:– Cuts – Puncture wounds– Itchy, irritated skin– Painful blisters – Rashes– Boils

Skin Irritations – Sharp-edged or pointed leaves

• Agave or Yucca have needle-sharp leaves– Can cut or cause skin

abrasion

• Pampas grass looks soft, but actually have razor-sharp edges – Can easily slice/cut skin

Skin Irritations - Thorns

• Can cause cuts, abrasions and punctures – Rose Bushes– Bougainvillea– Crown of Thorns– Wild Blackberries/ Raspberries

• Always remove thorns to prevent infection.

Skin Irritations – Spines and Glochids

• Spines – large barbed spines– barrel cactus

• Glochids - very fine, hair-like, barbed thorns– prickly pear– can become embedded

at the slightest touch– hard to see to remove

First Aid for Spines, Glochids & Thorns

• Use Tweezers.– Some spines are barbed, causing

intense pain when removed.• Use “Comb Method” of removal

for spines.– Insert teeth of comb between the

barb and skin.– Quickly flip comb (and cactus)

away from body.• Use “Duct Tape Method”– Adhere a piece of duct tape over

the spines and pull it off.

Skin Irritation – Stem and Leaf Hairs

• Stem and leaf hairs – fine hairs found on the

stems and leaves of plants

– harmless-looking but cause skin irritation

• Local plants include:– Borage– Forget-me-nots– Sunflowers

Skin Irritation – Barely-There Irritant Fibers

• Tulips– cause skin abrasions– very small, almost invisible

fibers• People who frequently

handle tulips bulbs can get a condition called "tulip fingers“. – Caused the irritating fibers and

a chemical in the bulb.

Skin Irritation – Stinging

• Stinging plants have nettles.

• Touching a nettle can cause a toxic reaction. – doesn’t last long – has no lasting effect

• First aid– Wash with soap & water– Apply antihistamine

cream Nettle leaf close up

Common Allergenic Plants

• Cause allergic reactions in some people. • Pollen in these plants can cause hay fever or

asthma.• Include: – Orchids– Chrysanthemums– Dahlias– Hyacinths

“The Poison Three”

• Poison Ivy• Poison Oak• Poison Sumac– Relatives of the cashew, mango, and the sumacs.– Over ½ of all the people in the U.S. are sensitive or

allergic.– Cause severe allergic reactions if a person comes in

contact with them.– All three contain the same poison called “Urushiol”.

Poison Ivy

• Found in West except for desert regions of California, Nevada and Arizona.

• Found in wooded areas. • Grows as a shrub, ground cover

and tree-climbing vine. • Green leaves that typically form

bundles of three on one purple stem.

• Rarely grows above 5000 ft.

Poison Oak

• Usually not found above 4000 feet elevation.

• More common in the western U.S.

• Commonly grows as a shrub from 1 to 6 feet tall

• Leaves are shaped somewhat like oak leaves.

• Leaves usually grow in groups of three on a shared stalk.

Poison Sumac

• Shrub or small tree up to 20ft.

• Found all over the U.S.• Found in wet, wooded areas.• Long stem with many leaves

of both green and purplish red colors with a red stem.

• In Fall, colors range from bright yellow to deep purple.

Getting Rid of “The Poison Three”

• Wear protective gloves and clothing!• Uproot it in late fall, when it has a minimum of

poison.• NEVER burn it!– Smoke carries the oil, producing a rash over 100

percent of the body– If you inhale the smoke, you can get the rash in

your throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs.

“Urushiol” the Poison Connection

• Urushiol is the poisonous oil that causes allergic skin rash on contact.

• Urushiol is found in poison ivy, oak, and sumac. – all parts of the plant, including roots, stems, and

leaves• Doesn’t affect animals.• After 15 minutes of exposure, it bonds to the

skin and can no longer be washed off.

Urushiol Exposure

• You can get the oil on your skin by: – Touching the poison oak, ivy or sumac plant.– Touching any clothing, including shoes, that have

come in contact with the plant.– Touching any gardening tools that may have the oil

on it.– Touching any outdoor pets that have gotten the oil

on their hair.– Burning the poison oak plant. The oil from the plant

is carried in the smoke.

The ReactionSymptoms include: – severe itching – reddish colored rash – blistering of the skin

“Contact Dermatitis” shows within 1 – 12 hours.

Severity depends on: – individual sensitivity– size of dose of Urushiol

the person got

The Reaction• All parts of the body are

vulnerable.• where the skin is thick,

(i.e. soles of the feet, palms of the hands) = less sensitive

• where the skin is thinner (i.e. around the eyes, underside of arms)

= more sensitive.

Immediately wash irritated area: • Use non- oil containing soap.• Clean area with rubbing

alcohol.• After the rash has developed,

treatment is based on relieving symptoms.

• Visit a doctor if you get a fever or have trouble breathing.

Treatment

Relieving the Symptoms What You Can Do

• Use cool compresses.– Cold water or whole milk

• Use over-the-counter itch creams.– Calamine Lotion– Aloe Vera gel– Oatmeal baths/soaks

• Take antihistamines.– Benedryl or similar

• Wear loose, cotton clothing.• See a doctor if fever, infection or

symptoms persist!

Emergency Treatment

Accidental poisoning can occur:• accidental ingestion• inhaling smoke from poisonous plants

– trouble breathing– high fever– irritation and swelling in the throat– can be deadly!

Accident / Exposure Prevention• Communicate hazards.• Recognize and avoid hazardous plants.• Reassign employees who are extremely sensitive

to toxic plants, to less exposed duties.• Wash tools, clothes, and other items came in

contact with toxic plants.• Use commercial products that can help keep the

urushiol oil from getting into your skin. – “Ivy Block” is the only FDA approved product.– Forms a clay-like coating on the skin.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Wear protective clothing.– Long pants– Long sleeves– Boots– Gloves

• Make sure all clothing overlaps to prevent exposure.

• Use safety glasses or face shield when cutting.

Fatalities

• There were no OSHA reported fatalities related to any of these plants for the years 1990-2009. – Source: OSHA Fatality Data-1990-2009

True or False? Review1. Wash your shoes separately in hot water after

handling toxic plants. 2. Burning plants can release harmful toxins into the air. 3. After handling plants, always wash your hands and

other exposed skin before eating, drinking, smoking, or going to the bathroom.

4. Don’t bother removing thorns from skin, they will eventually fall out on their own.

5. Wear short-sleeved shirts so you can spot skin reactions easily.

Copyright © 2006, The Ohio State University

References:• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates • Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac Information Center, http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view• Treating Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Poison Sumac, http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=559