Plants causing dermatosis in humans

Abstract

Many plants cause dermatosis in the human population, thus presenting an everyday problem for dermatologists and allergologists around the world. To this day it is still not known how common are plant-induced dermatosis. It is estimated that around 334 million people worldwide, or 3.5% of the world population, is affected by dermatosis each year. The onset of dermatitis is most common in the early childhood. Around 20% of children in Great Britain and 10% in the USA are affected by different types of dermatosis. It is believed that around 10,000 plant species can cause dermatosis in humans. Phytodermatosis are dermatosis caused by plants. They are usually induced by direct contact with a plant, but can also occur without a direct contact or be activated by the sun. Dermatosis which occur without a direct contact with the plant are observed in those cases where certain perfumes, cremes or other cosmetic products are used. Some cosmetic products contain substances such as eugenol, isoeugenol, cinnamaldehyde, colophonium, turpentines and other substances which originate from plants. Similarly, lichens, which are not plants, but organisms resulting from a fungi and algae symbiosis, produce usnic acids, which are most commonly used in sun protection products.