Wild parsnip particularly the (Pastinaca Sativa) can have horrendous effects on the skin of an individual who happens to come into contact with it. Many people who are affected by this plant believe that they have been exposed to poison ivy.
One major difference between poison ivy and wild parsnip is that poison ivy can affect the body anywhere there is exposure to its oils, but the wild parsnip requires sunlight to be present in order to have an affect. This is not to say that wild parsnip can't cause a rash or burn on your skin if it is cloudy outside. Just as you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day, you can also have a serious reaction to wild parsnip on these days. The burns from wild parsnips can leave you with a discoloration of skin for anywhere from a couple of months up to a couple of years.
Another difference between the two is that while poison ivy will leave you itching for up to a week or more, the wild parsnip will cause a severe burn that doesn't last nearly as long. The burning from exposure to wild parsnip will begin within 24 hours whereas the itching rash from poison ivy may take up to two days to begin.
For more information and photos of the wild parsnip, check out the USDA Website. By studying photos and video of wild parsnip you can make sure to avoid it while on your adventures in the great outdoors!
- Any day in the outdoors is a good day
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