Fig sap skin burn

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FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1469733351	Reply with quote #1

So I always get the white sap on my hands when doing air layers, due to removing leaves. It's never really bothered my hands. Last Saturday, I was doing an air layer in the center of a tree and fig sap had dripped in between my forearm and bicep. I thought nothing of it. I didn't wash it until about 2 hours later. A few days later, I happened to notice what looked like bruising in that very spot. I knew immediately what it was from, but had no idea how badly it had affected my skin. I'm assuming this happened due to sensitive skin. Strange how it never affected me on my hands very much. This is 5 days later and I think it's getting a little better. The deep red mark is painful only if I press on it. Just something to think about if you are arms deep in a leaking fig tree! ;) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Figinfever

Registered:1463715687
Posts: 245

Posted 1469737390	Reply with quote #2

I agree with Alan. Weird things happen to our body as we get older and get exposed to different foreign substances. Unfortunately, allergy is one of the resulting things. From the lightening of the redness in the picture, I think it is slowly healing as well. __________________ Dan, West Central FL 9a Wishlist- Great tasting dark or light figs with deep red interiors: White Madeira, Craven's Craving, Portugal Black Madeira, Sultani, Violeta, USDA Black Ischia, Dall'Osso, CdDB or CdDB-N

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1469738126	Reply with quote #3

Thanks for the input, guys. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

bigbadbill

Registered:1357527109
Posts: 376

Posted 1469740069	Reply with quote #4

Sorry that happened, Frank. I know the more sensitive areas of skin or membranes are greater affected by ficin, the protease (enzyme) in fig sap/latex that breaks down proteins. I know when I do air layers, the skin under my fingernails gets really raw as it is more sensitive than my hands. It stings and eventually subsides, but it is not a lot of fun after setting the air layers- even after rinsing them well. I have also heard that the tolerance to ficin deceases as exposure increases. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I know the sap didn't really bother me when I first started working with figs, but now it is really annoying with prolonged exposure. __________________ SE Pa, zone 6b https://www.facebook.com/offthebeatenpathnurseries

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1469741680	Reply with quote #5

I think you should get rid of all your fig trees being you are putting yourself in harms way. I will pay shipping for all your trees. Im a nice guy and want to help you out. ;-) lol. Most peps get burned sooner or later. It got me when i picked from a huge tree. Was moving branches out the way to get to figs in the inner branches. Very itchy __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1469753212	Reply with quote #6

Thanks Bill. Yes, it certainly does get annoying but I guess it could be worse. Richie - That would solve all my fig problems! haha. I think I will find a way to deal with it though. ;) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1469756330	Reply with quote #7

Tanks for the warning Frank ,i will pay more attention __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

CliffH

Registered:1463781646
Posts: 125

Posted 1469757906	Reply with quote #8

I have the same thing happen with poison ivy and fire ant bites. I get nothing on my hands or other skin areas that gets more exposure to the sun and wind. But on the inside of my arms and other tender areas I get an reaction. I get the rashes and small blisters from the any bites. It does seem to take a day or two to show up too. CliffH __________________ Texas (N. Houston area) - zone 8b Wish List: Figo Preto, Col de Dame Blanca-Negra, Deanna, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Sollies, LSU Red (new)

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1469758169 · Edited	Reply with quote #9

It could have been worse Frank, if you had been out in the sun longer or it was much hotter it could have caused blisters. There are chemicals in fig sap called furocoumarins which react with sunlight, the technical term is phytophotodermatitis. It does not bother my hands either but I've had plenty of small burns on my arms. __________________ 7a, DE

mumofstig

Registered:1440594081
Posts: 2

Posted 1469892856	Reply with quote #10

When I was living in Greece I got stung by a bee on my ribcage and the sting was left behind in my skin, as usual. My Greek friend took a leaf from a fig tree and used the sticky sap end to pull out the sting. Where the sap touched the bump from the bite, it went redder but stopped hurting, like it had been anaesthetized. So the sap has its uses LOL __________________ LJBonarius

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1469894111	Reply with quote #11

You are right. I got stung on my finger a couple years ago and I immediately applied fig sap. The pain instantly went away. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

BERNARD

Registered:1450086289
Posts: 3

Posted 1470519845	Reply with quote #12

hello here find information from local newspaper on fig sap problem occred in south of France last summer The link is http://archives.varmatin.com/faits-divers/une-jeune-vencoise-brulee-au-2e-degre-a-cause-de-feuilles-de-figuier.2220616.html bernard

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