Conifer itch?

Hi folks,mr.fiz has been paving a drive this week and on monday his son came home and said he`d rubbed up against a conifer like shrub-tree and he immediately came out in a rash.Mr.fiz came in last night and said while he was laying bricks the shrub had brushed across his back and he`d also started to itch and a rash had developed.He said definitley conifer(Christmas tree)kind of thing.The owner couldn`t help with identifying it.Has anyone got one and knows what it is please?

 

Many types of conifer can cause a rash, in particular leylandii, Junipers and Chamaecyparis (false cypress).It seems to be a series of small scratches, which then get irritated, but normally goes away after a couple of days, so shouldn't need worrying about too much.
It's happened to me many times!

 

Thank`s Lavender,i know they`ll be pleased to know it won`t develope into the plague or some such. :rolleyes: :D

 

Hi Elaine

Youngest little darling suffers REALLY badly with an allergy and mega hayfever set off by Conifers, especially their pollen. It started suddenly after a garden centre visit about 5 years ago, where we think he must have touched one then rubbed his eyes. We had to a dash to A&E as his eyes swelled up and closed within a minute or two. Now he sufferes from severe hay fever and swollen eyes (his tear ducts swell and "pop" out ) in May/ June as a result of his "encounter".

I dont want to be alarmist, but we have learnt that Conifers are really quite irritant. He is not allowed to touch Christmas trees, but is ok with them in the house.

We keep him dosed up on anti-histamene and eye drops.

It most likely (hopefully) is a one-off, but in my son's case, it triggered off an allergy. It may be an idea to get them some anti histamene from the Chemist until the rash goes.

 

im a gardener ,theres a bloke at work who cant prune conifers as he comes up in a rash ,i think this is quite common!