Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens

We report phytophotodermatitis in a 5-year-old boy, his 6-year-old sister and his mother, evoked by their handling common rue (Ruta graveolens), a plant which contains psoralens. Psoralens are photoactive chemicals which, when rubbed on the skin, react with sunlight to produce erythema, hyperpigmentation and blistering. Phytophotodermatitis is an uncommon cause of such ill-effects, in children.