It is officially that time of year where bright sunny skies have descended upon Louisiana. As the sunshine and warm weather brings cookouts, gardening, pool days and vacationing, it also brings certain skin conditions that can really put a damper on your summer plans.
Let me introduce you to phytophotodermatitis. When you look at the derivative of the word “phyto” meaning plant, “photo” meaning sun and “dermatitis” meaning inflammation of the skin, you can get an idea of where this is going. There are certain plants that contain a substance known as furocoumarins that protect them from fungal infections. These substances can be toxic to human skin when exposed to certain wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation. It just so happens that furocoumarin levels are at their highest during mid to late summer which is also when ultraviolet radiation is at its strongest.
These are some plants known to cause phytophotodermatitis:
Citrus fruits (limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruit)
Celery
Carrots
Dill
Parsnip
Fig
Fennel
Parsley
Rhubarb
Hogweed
Meadow grass, as well as other plants.
This phototoxic reaction of the skin typically begins after 24 hours of exposure and then peaks at 72 hours. As you can see from the photo above symptoms can include redness, swelling, pain, and blistering. This patient became symptomatic after she had been making pool-side margaritas for her guests. She described her pain as feeling like a bad sunburn. In this case, the patient was treated with good wound care, a topical steroid ointment, and oral anti-inflammatory medications. In some cases, antibiotics are warranted to prevent secondary infection. As this condition heals, long-lasting brown discoloration is left in its place. However, over time, this too will fade.
Here are some tips to avoid phytophotodermatitis:
-Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapply every 90 minutes.
-Do not juice citrus fruits outdoors when UV levels are high.
-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling fruits and vegetables.
-Be mindful that certain lotions, perfumes, and hand sanitizers may also contain fruit extracts or oils.
-Wear gloves when gardening.
-Wear pants and long sleeves in wooded areas.
How to treat phytophotodermatitis from home:
-Use cool wet compresses.
-Apply hydrocortisone ointment twice daily
-Take OTC NSAIDS (Aspirin, Aleve, Ibuprofen) for pain.
-Apply sunscreen to prevent hyperpigmentation from worsening.
Knowledge is power and I hope this information will help you have a safer and healthier summer! If you have any concerns about pain, blistering or brown spots please contact Dean Dermatology at
318-321-5245
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