Avoid These Plants Just Like Poison Ivy
One of the best parts of spring is finally getting back outside to enjoy nature. Or at least it does until you hit some kind of roadblock, like a particularly muddy trail, a seasonal allergy, or eventually a red, itchy rash after exposure to poison ivy or a similar irritating plant.
That’s right: in addition to avoiding the three-leaf weed, there are other plants that can scratch you. Here are some of them, found both in the wild and in gardens, that you should avoid (or at least be especially careful about).
What you need to know about an itchy rash
The difficulty lies in the fact that these plants do not take long to cause skin irritation: in many cases, just touching them while walking is enough to cause a rash. Generally speaking, this skin irritation is called “contact dermatitis” and it happens when your skin has an allergic reaction to a substance.
Typically, the rash develops within minutes or hours of exposure and, depending on its severity, can last up to a month.
According to the Mayo Clinic , in addition to the red, itchy rash, other signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis may include:
- Dry, cracked, flaky skin
- Bumps and blisters, sometimes with oozing and crusting
- Swelling, burning or tenderness
Plants that cause itchy rashes
When it comes to plants that cause rashes and skin irritation, you’re probably familiar with the Big Three: poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. But there are many others that can make you itchy and uncomfortable.
wild plants
Here are a few examples of plants like the “Big Three” that cause contact dermatitis and can (and do) grow wild throughout the United States, from woodlands to roadsides to backyards:
- Hemlock spotted water
- tree nettle
- Nettle
- Leadwort (also known as plumbago)
- Ambrosia
- giant hogweed
garden plants
And not only wild plants can cause skin irritation. According to the American Academy of the Dermatological Association (AADA) , these home grown cultures cause skin reactions:
- Strawberry
- Garlic
- A tomato
- Comfrey
- Borago
- wild rose
- Gypsophila (dried)
- Spicy pepper
- Tulip bulbs
- Bulbs of daffodils
- hyacinth bulbs
If you’re not sure if a plant you’ve encountered in the wild or grown in your own garden could cause a rash, it’s best to proceed with caution by covering all exposed skin (especially on the hands and feet) and wearing gardening gloves.
And if you think you’ve come into contact with one of these plants, wash your hands and body part immediately and thoroughly with water (although the AADA advises avoiding soap and harsh cleaning).