bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Bad Reaction To Ficus Sap!!

Allergenic reactions to ficus sap are not all that common but it does happen. Usually after long and repeated exposure to the sap. I know of two professional growers of ficus that have the problem. But only after many years of exposing themselves to the sticky stuff on a daily basis.
Most of the time it is only a slight redness but sometimes a bit of swelling does occur.
I asked a dermatologist about this once and she told me that the best way to prevent the problem was to just wash your hands after you are done. A way to prevent it in the first place ( for most people) is to put on a good hand cream before you start to work. This will put a barrier of sorts between you and the sap.
I use a Revlon product called Silicare. The silicone in it really helps out. Sap of all kinds seems to wash off much easier when I use that before I start working on a tree
Vaseline Intensive Care hand cream is also another good product for this.

25-Mar-2003	#5
RonMartin(deceased) Bonsai nare-do-well Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Summerville SC Country: USA USDA Zone: 8A AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 4,653	Allergenic reactions to ficus sap are not all that common but it does happen. Usually after long and repeated exposure to the sap. I know of two professional growers of ficus that have the problem. But only after many years of exposing themselves to the sticky stuff on a daily basis. Most of the time it is only a slight redness but sometimes a bit of swelling does occur. I asked a dermatologist about this once and she told me that the best way to prevent the problem was to just wash your hands after you are done. A way to prevent it in the first place ( for most people) is to put on a good hand cream before you start to work. This will put a barrier of sorts between you and the sap. I use a Revlon product called Silicare. The silicone in it really helps out. Sap of all kinds seems to wash off much easier when I use that before I start working on a tree Vaseline Intensive Care hand cream is also another good product for this.