Fingertip dermatitis in a retail florist

Prevalence of plant contact dermatitis in retail florists varies with expos ure, and the number of reports of contact allergy to cut tulips is rather s mall. Alpha-methylene-gamma -butyrolactone is better known as the cause of both Alstroemeria dermatitis in retail florists and tulip finger in wholesa le floral workers who handle the bulbs. Our patient presented with prominen t erythema, scaling, and peeling of the skin of the thumb, index, and middl e fingers of his right hand. Results of a patch test to alpha -methylene-ga mma -butyrolactone were strongly positive. and the patient determined that the exposure had occurred when he stripped leaves from the tulip stems to a rrange cut flowers. Other natural sources of the antigen include Alstroemer ia; Bomarea: Dioscorea hispida; Erythronium; Gagea; Fritillaria; and at lea st one species of onion, Allium triquetrum.