My Worst Gardening Mistake Parsnip Burn AKA Phytophotodermatitis. Im sharing my story here so you dont make the same mistake I did, and end up with parsnip burn, AKA Phytophotodermatitis PPD. This was not a wild parsnip rash from exposure to some poison parsnip. I was working in my garden. Garden parsnips and wild parsnips are the same species, and it turns out they can cause the same problems. Several other plants can cause the problem, too. It was a series of unfortunate events, or perhaps the perfect storm of things I just shouldnt have done. If I had realized what the results would be when I was doing it, it would have been simple to prevent, but the pain didnt start until two days later. By then, the damage was done, and the only thing I could do was treat the symptoms. What is Phytophotodermatitis PPD Medscape defines Phytophotodermatitis as Phytophotodermatitis PPD is a cutaneous phototoxic inflammatory eruption resulting from contact with light sensitizing botanical substances and long wave ultraviolet UV A 3. The eruption usually begins approximately 2. You dont realize youre in trouble until several days after exposure, by which point, youre skunked. If youre working with wet plants on a hot summer day, its going to be worse. So there is no washing it off. Some of you may have also heard about getting blisters from wild parsnip, but may not have realized the garden parsnips can also cause burns. Garden parsnip and wild parsnip are both different varieties of the same species Pastinaca sativa. The phytophotodermatitis from limes is also referred to as margarita dermatitis because of all those poor folks who have sucked on their limes in the summer sun. 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No. Not skipping the carrots, parsley or celery, either. In all my years of gardening, these past couple of decades on my own and helping mom out growing up, Ive never been burned by garden parsnip before. I did get about an inch long blister from wild parsnip, but none from garden parsnip. Heres what I screwed up I was working in the morning, so the plants were covered in dew. More moisture wet skin. It was hot, so I was sweating more wet skin heat, both triggers for PPDThe area I was working on was roughly 8. I had thinned and weeded the patch when the plants were younger, but this round of thinning took place when the plants were a couple feet tall. The only way to reach the roots to pull them out was to stick my arm into lots of foliage. Problem solved. Alternatively, not handling the broken plants with bare skin, or thinning harder when the plants were small so I didnt need to stick my arms into a thicket would probably also have done the trick. That said, we have been enjoying the carrots and parsnips I picked. Over the counter itch cream like those for poison ivy may also help. Flipping Vegas Episode With Snake. I hit the pantry and the garden. On the first couple of blisters, I used fresh plantain and yarrow leaves, mashed and applied as a poultice. As more blisters showed up, I coated the worst blisters with manuka honey to promote healing and fight infection. The burns on my hands and elbow didnt heal quite as fast. My hands spend way too much time being beat up during canning and gardening season, so I cant keep bandages on them, and the elbow is just awkward to keep bandaged. Comfrey and Lavender Salve Recipe. Adapted from the Herbal Academy. Ingredients. Directions. Pour olive oil into a double boiler or small, heavy bottom pot. Add comfrey leaves. Heat over low heat for 6. Youre looking for gentle heat, not boiling. Remove from heat. Strain and compost comfrey, reserving infused oil. Melt beeswax in a clean pan over low heat. Once melted, add herbal infused oil and lavender essential oil. Mix well. Quickly pour salve into tins or glass jars and allow to cool before placing lids on and labeling. The HANE website notes that Comfrey contains allantoin, an anti inflammatory phytochemical that speeds would healing and stimulates growth of new skin cells. The HANE burn cream recipe also includes one ounce each of dried plantain, calendula and St. Johns wort to bump up the healing power a little more. Photos of the Phytophotodermatitis PPDJust so you can see how the eruptions progressed, Ive included some comparison photos below. Watch Anatomy Of A Murder Online Forbes. The image at the top of the post is my left elbow on day three after exposure. One week after exposure. The blisters have ruptured and it is healing, although it still looks rough. Some of the scabs have sloughed off. My left hand at day 3 and day 7 after exposure. Day seven may not look much better, but it feels much better. No more burning and itching. One last shot. A blister on my right arm that was one of the first to appear that I treated with a plantain poultice followed up by a day of honey and ongoing use of the comfrey salve. Dont fear the plants, just dont handle them in such a way that you set yourself up for some serious discomfort. Learn from my mistakes.