Hartriegel, Wolfsmilch und Riesenbärenklau als Auslöser einer Pflanzendermatitis

Contact with plants may cause adverse skin reactions by different mechanisms. We present four clinical cases representing three different types of phytodermatitis: 1. mechanical irritation by the hairs of the leaves of dogwood (Cornus alba), 2. toxic reactions caused by the latex of two different species of spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites and Euphorbia cyparissias), and 3. phototoxic effect of furocoumarin-containing leaves of giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). These plants, as well as several related species, represent popular ornamental plants widely distributed in houses and gardens. Therefore a wide category of persons may potentially come into close contact with these plants including the risk of irritant adverse effects. As the connection between dermatitis and plant contact is not always obvious, the aetiology of the dermatitis may remain obscure. For this reason in daily routine it is necessary to include the possibility of phytodermatitis in differential diagnosis.