Photo dermatitis from ficus sap, and there's others too.

Eric Frei · 15th April 2007, 04:53 PM

I pruned a ficus benjamina on Thursday. By the next day the intense itching came ... this goes on for about a week. Then small blisters and red rash comes and about 1 month later all goes away.

That's for me anyway. Never used to happen but then one day it just came. I use a lot of calamine lotion on it.

What makes it go nuts it's hot water and sunlight. It burns like acid, using soap makes it burn too so I use this stinky pinosol stuff.

And just yesterday I quoted another bloody ficus removal. Problem is you sweat and even where ever the sawdust gets ya it turns to a rash thing.

The actual name for this is Phytophotodermatitis.

This link has some useful info, and right down the bottom a list of a few plants that cause it.

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic324.htm

This one here is good to, many plants down the bottom to watch out for.

http://www.telemedicine.org/botanica/bot5.htm

Drouin Tree Service · 16th April 2007, 01:59 AM

I had a run in with one of them a while back,went straight home shower 2 zyrtec antihistimine and slept it off for a few hours,not plesant at all.

JohN Dee · 16th April 2007, 11:28 PM

The same happens to me with figs, the first time it happened I was burning off the wood at a mates and was helping put it in the fire.. By the end of the night I had MASSIVE red lumps literally hanging off've me.

The next day went to the chemist and the pharmacist asked if I had been gardening then I explained and he refered me to Zyrtec and to take it easy for the rest of the day. 1 tablet, 4 hours of watching movies while my mum got my food/drinks and cleaned and I was cleared up.

Alotta people react to Silky Oaks aswell. Rhus dematitus is the worst of all. While my teacher was teaching us about the Rhus tree he told us the best way to remove one is to get someone else to do it.

Some people claim to have an "Immunity" to Rhus, although that is not the case where it is actually their Imune system becoming less resistant to it everytime they come in contact with it.

Just type rhus by itself into google and all these pages will come up about all the severe reactions it causes.

Here is a section on this website: http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/1910 On how to remove the Rhus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agriculture NSW

Rhus should be removed with extreme caution. Contact with the sap is especially dangerous. The risk of contact may be reduced by waiting until after the leaves have fallen before attempting to remove the plant. Wear clothes which cover up as much skin as possible.

Wear gloves and work carefully. Dig up as much of the main root system as possible to discourage suckering. Do not burn any part of the plant. Dispose of all rhus debris properly by taking it to the local garbage tip. Be careful not to drop leaves and branches along the way. Rhus branches should not be mulched or chipped for garden use, as the toxic resin remains active for many months, even after weathering.

Sean Freeman · 16th April 2007, 11:59 PM

Rhus, now thats a tree I'm not sorry not to have met!

Jeff Darby · 17th April 2007, 12:06 AM

Hi Folks,
Just thought I would add this picture of the leaves from the rhus tree..be carefull of this tree it's very dangerous..contact with the leaves and inhaleing the pollen could kill you!

http://www.treeworld.info/attachment...1&d=1176724873

15th April 2007, 04:53 PM	#1
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Photo dermatitis from ficus sap, and there's others too. I pruned a ficus benjamina on Thursday. By the next day the intense itching came ... this goes on for about a week. Then small blisters and red rash comes and about 1 month later all goes away. That's for me anyway. Never used to happen but then one day it just came. I use a lot of calamine lotion on it. What makes it go nuts it's hot water and sunlight. It burns like acid, using soap makes it burn too so I use this stinky pinosol stuff. And just yesterday I quoted another bloody ficus removal. Problem is you sweat and even where ever the sawdust gets ya it turns to a rash thing. The actual name for this is Phytophotodermatitis. This link has some useful info, and right down the bottom a list of a few plants that cause it. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic324.htm This one here is good to, many plants down the bottom to watch out for. http://www.telemedicine.org/botanica/bot5.htm __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

16th April 2007, 01:59 AM	#2
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,697	I had a run in with one of them a while back,went straight home shower 2 zyrtec antihistimine and slept it off for a few hours,not plesant at all. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

17th April 2007, 12:06 AM	#5
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Toxicodrendron succedaneum Hi Folks, Just thought I would add this picture of the leaves from the rhus tree..be carefull of this tree it's very dangerous..contact with the leaves and inhaleing the pollen could kill you! http://www.treeworld.info/attachment...1&d=1176724873 Attached Thumbnails __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011 Last edited by Jeff Darby; 17th April 2007 at 09:43 AM.

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16th April 2007, 11:59 PM	#4
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Rhus, now thats a tree I'm not sorry not to have met!