Almost everyone is allergic the the leaves and sap to some extent. Almost no one is allergic to the fruit. Thats why some people where long sleeve shirts and gloves while harvesting and pruning figs. Some people are more sensitive than others. I always wash after picking figs and never touch my face or eyes.

The person harvesting figs in this video wears a long sleeve shirt and gloves for a reason.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Fabulous Fig

I would not be embarrased to go to the emergency room if that happened to me. At least you now know what you must do to continue enjoying your figs.

Dan

I just finished repotting and pruning several (tropical) Ficus this weekend & I have blisters on the back of my hands & on my forearms up to my elbows - and man do they itch. I'm obviously not affected to the degree you are, but I feel for you.

Al

Wow, that sounds serious, better not take it too lightly. Then on the other hand perhaps your doctor can change your medication to another one that might not have the same effect. Hopefully it all works out for you. It would be a shame if you would have to give up figs.
Blessings and wishing you well,
"gene"

Hi Sal,
what you mention may help others new to figs in future if it were to happen to them. Like you mention maybe the new meds had something to do with it if this never happened before.
Figs plants do not bother me i guess im fortunate.
What bothers me is brushing up against my evergreen tree limbs when cutting grass i break out in little red bumps on my arms that itch like crazy.
Best
Martin

Hi Sal

I am very sorry that you had to spend time at the emergency room. Did the doctors consider the possibility that you might be allergic to mangoes and not figs, or both? I know a lot more people are allergic to the mango sap. When picking figs I always wear plastic gloves, you should too. As we grow older all kind of allergies show up, that is not something to look forward.:)
I hope that you are feeling better and eating your wonderful figs!

Silvia

Wow guys thanks for all the kind responses and understanding. They did not determine a figin thing gave me a bill and meds and said follow up with primary. Well being the hard head that I some times am I picked about
2-3 lbs of different figs and am eating them as I type. It is not the fruit that caused this I'm sure, but the leaves themselves and probably my new medication which makes me a little more susceptible I plan on talking to doctor in next few weeks as I'm due for a follow up. I will be a little more cautious when picking also. I gave Doc 2 nice size fig trees in FEB. so That SOB better have a good solution, I'm not giving up my figs lol ;-)) Just a side note the affected area was my face, eyes and head more than anything else, my hands are fine
Thanks Again
Sal

It could be the Mangoes! I have had a pretty bad allergic reaction to Mangoes in the last year. They are in the same family as poison ivy (Rhus). I ate mango right off the skin, without peeling it, and got the worst swollen red itchy rash on my lips and eyelids. my eye was almost swollen shut, and it felt like there was sandpaper on my lips. Took about a week to fully go away. needless to say, i don't eat mango anymore. hope this helps your diagnosis!

What kkazland said!!! I love the green Mexican mangoes, but several years ago, I got this blistery rash around my mouth and couldn't figure out what it was. The doctor thought it was herpes and I said I'd never seen it like that, or had anything but small fever blisters in my life and not often.

I finally figured out it was an allergic reaction to something but didn't know what. I ended up thinking it was a contact allergy to Lysol Deodorizing Cleaner and never touched the stuff again.

Then following year, I got the reaction again, but hadn't handled any cleaners, but I had eaten mangoes again. It wasn't too bad a rash, but the next year, I ate some mango from around the pit and felt my mouth burning. Bummer!

Unthinking, I later used the washcloth I had used to wipe off the mangoes with to cool my face after having been out in the heat and the next day my whole face broke out in blisters and itching. How dumb was I? But I had forgotten I'd used the cloth on the magoes and the skin oils were all over the cloth. My eyes were the worst, but the rash was all over my face this time. I've not touched mangoes since.

Sal, I'm sorry you had this problem and it may be the combination of the magoes with the figs, or the mangoes and the hairy leaves of the figs just made it worse.

I hope the doctor can help you out. Keep us posted.

Vivian