Being in the great outdoors can pose challenges if you have allergies. While most allergens found outside cause respiratory symptoms after your inhale them, rather than skin problems, some can also cause a facial rash. Facial rashes caused by allergens can occur from direct contact or as a systemic reaction that causes hives, raised welts that can affect the face.
Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac
One of the most common allergens in America, affecting 85 percent of the population, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, poison ivy and its cousins, poison oak and sumac can cause an intensely itchy rash. Even if the plant doesn't touch your face, the oil, called urushiol, from the plant is easily spread to everything you touch, including your face, and it penetrates within minutes. Touching a tool, pet or child who has touched poison ivy easily spreads the oil to you. Washing within five minutes with cold running water and soap helps remove the oil before you can spread it to other parts of your body.
Stinging Insects
If you have an allergy to bees, wasps or other stinging insecst, you know to stay out of their way if at all possible. Although bees aren't, strictly speaking, just on outdoor allergy, the outdoors is where most people have close encounters with bees and wasps. A severe allergy to stings affects around 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people, the University of California reports. Systemic reactions to stings can cause hives, welts that can pop up on different parts of the skin far from the original sting. Hives can occur along with shortness of breath, chest tightening, difficulty breathing and facial swelling.
Grass
Grass is one of the most common outdoor allergies, along with ragweed and birch trees, Claire Gagne explains in "Allergic Living" magazine. While most grass reactions occur from the pollen, which germinates and spread through the air in May through July, severe reactions that can cause facial hives can occur. This usually occurs when the allergen enters through a break in the skin after a fall on the grass, says Vancouver allergist Dr. Donald Stark in the same magazine.
Other Irritating Plants
Allergies that can cause a facial rash can develop to a number of plants, flowers or trees. If the plant touches your face, you may develop contact dermatitis or primary irritant dermatitis. Tomatoes, garlic, carrots, cucumber and turnips are among the plants that can cause skin reactions. Flowers such as daffodils, buttercup, tulip bulbs, primrose and English ivy can also cause rashes. Trees known for their potential to cause a rash include cedar, rubber, fig, milkweed and pine trees.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology: Poison Ivy
- University of California; Bee and Wasp Stings; February 2003
- "Allergic Living"; When Grass Attacks; Claire Gagné
- University of California Cooperative Extension; Plants, Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals: Cutaneous Toxicity (Toxic Effects on Skin); September 1982
