Wilderness Dermatology: Bugs, Plants, and Other Nuisances That May Ruin Your Hike
Wu, D.J.; Lee, J.; Chavez, A.; Kawaoka, J.C.
Rhode Island Medical Journal 102(1): 16-22
2019
ISSN/ISBN: 0363-7913 PMID: 30709069 Document Number: 698885
Spending time outdoors can be rewarding. However, exposure to the sun, insect bites, and plant exposures may result in a wide range of dermatologic manifestations. In this article, we describe potential cutaneous manifestations of common wilderness exposures in New England including photodermatoses from prolonged sun exposure, phytodermatoses from plant exposures, and arthropod-bite reactions from common insects (mosquitos, spiders, ticks, hymenoptera, mites and chiggers). The article will also address preventive and treatment strategies which may help physicians and their patients better prepare for spending time in the wilderness. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2019-02.asp].