Phytophotodermatitis (Solar Dermatitis from Plants)

Abstract

THE dermatologic and general medical literature contains the names of numerous plants of wide distribution that are alleged to cause phytophotodermatitis. These plants contain furocoumarins (psoralens), which act as photosensitizers.^{1 , 2} Many of the plants exist in New England, but proved photosensitization is a rare event indeed. Our attempts to produce dermatitis with 2 of these plants, the buttercup and the wild carrot, have been unsuccessful. There are in the Northeast, however, at least 2 plants that are common and readily cause photodermatitis – the wild parsnip³ and the gas plant.⁴ The currently preferred medical term for the disease produced by . . .