Phytophotodermatitis associated with parsnip picking

Phytophotodermatitis to certain plant groups is a well recognised entity. The combination of sunlight exposure and contact with plants of the umbelliferae family leads to the development of painful, erythematous, and bullous lesions and later to cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Agricultural workers and many clinicians often fail to make this link when patients present with these lesions. An incident involving 11 patients is presented to high-light this problem.