Emine SARCAN, Ali KABLAN, Tuba ŞAFAK, Burcu DOĞAN
Academic Journal of Health - 2026;4(2):67-69
Although herbal products are widely used, inappropriate or unsupervised application may result in serious cutaneous reactions. We report a case of severe bullous irritant contact dermatitis that developed following the topical application of a mixture of Potentilla erecta and Plantago lanceolata. A 51-year-old woman developed burning and pruritus approximately two hours after topical application of a mixture of Potentilla erecta and Plantago lanceolata to both antecubital fossae and the plantar surfaces of both feet. Progressive erythema, tense bullae, and severe pain developed over the following 24 hours, prompting presentation to the emergency department. The absence of sun exposure, mucosal involvement, systemic manifestations, and laboratory abnormalities, together with a detailed history of herbal exposure, strongly supported the clinical diagnosis.The lesions resolved completely following wound care, systemic corticosteroid therapy, and supportive care. This case highlights the importance of considering plant-induced irritant contact dermatitis in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with burn-like bullous skin lesions and underscores the critical role of obtaining a detailed history of herbal exposure in establishing an accurate diagnosis and guiding appropriate management.
