Purpuric agave dermatitis

Agave americana is a low growing, thick, long-leaved, subtropical plant use d for medicinal, commercial, and ornamental purposes. The plant's sap conta ins calcium oxalate crystals, acrid oils, saponins, and other compounds. De spite these known irritants, Agave-induced irritant dermatitis has rarely b een reported. Previous case reports have noted a papulovesicular eruption c onsistent with an irritant contact dermatitis. We report a case of Agave-in duced purpura in an otherwise healthy patient. Histopathology was consisten t with an evolving leukocytoclastic vasculitis.