Dr. Matt Zirwas, MD, FAAD


Physician
Dermatology

Specialty

Dermatologic Surgery,
General Dermatology

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Bexley Dermatology
2359 E. Main St.
Bexley, Ohio 43209 [MAP]
For an appointment , call (614) 947-1716
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Compositae Allergy

Compositae also called…Asteracae.

 This is a group of common plants that makes an oily substance that coats the plants and their pollen. This oily substance is present in the extracts of these plants and it causes allergic reactions from touching the plants or from products that contain extracts of the plants.

  1. Natural Products
  2. Products that have botanical ingredients:
  • Soaps and Bodywashes
  • Shampoos
  • Conditioners
  • Moisturizers
  • Lip Balms
  • Aquaphor Ointment (bisabolo is in the family)
  • Essential Oils
  • Aromatherapy Oils
  • Massage Oils
  • Herbal Teas
  • Herbal Supplements

How to avoid Compositae:

Avoid essential oils, botanicals, botanical extracts, botanical fragranced products, etc.

Avoid teas made from chamomile, lavender, dandelion.

Avoid touching plants in this family (there are over 20,000, but the common ones are listed on the next page.

Avoid prolonged outdoor activity when these plants are in bloom, as airborne pollen can cause a severe skin rash on face and/or hands, even if you aren’t near the plants themselves. Close windows against their pollen. Some people get such a bad rash that they need treated with oral medications.

 

Plants in the Compositae Family:

  • Absinthe (Artemesia absinthium)
  • Arnica (Arnica montana)
  • Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
  • Aster (Aster)
  • Bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus)
  • Beggartick (Bidens tripartita)
  • Bitterweed (Helenium amarum)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
  • Boneset (Eupatorium)
  • Brittlebush (Encelia)
  • Broomweed (Amphiachyrisdracunculoides)
  • Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
  • Burdock (Arctium minus)
  • Bursage (Ambrosia dumosa)
  • Butterweed (Helenium)
  • Calendulae (Osteospermum)
  • Capeweed (Arctotheca calendulacea)
  • Chamomile, Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
  • Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutita)
  • Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
  • Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema)
  • Coast tarweed (Madia sativa)
  • Cocklebur (Xanthium)
  • Colt’s foot (Petasites frigidus)
  • Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis)
  • Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
  • Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus)
  • Coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis)
  • Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis)
  • Daisy (Aster amellus)
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
  • Desert star (Monoptilon bellioides)
  • Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria)
  • Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Elecampane (Inula helenium)
  • Endive (Cichorium endivia)
  • Estragon (Artemesia dracunculus)
  • Everlasting, pearly (Anaphalis margaritacea)
  • Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
  • Fireweed (Erechtites valerianaefolia)
  • Fleabane (Erigeron)
  • Flora’s paintbrush (Emilia)
  • Gaillardia (Gaillardia)
  • Gerbera (Trixis californica)
  • Goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis)
  • Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris)
  • Guayule (Parthenium argentatum)
  • Hairy cat’s ear (Hypochaeris radicata)
  • Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica)
  • Hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum)
  • Hempweed (Mikania scandens)
  • Horsetail (Conyza canadensis)
  • Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum)
  • Ironweed (Vernoniagigantea)
  • Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
  • Knapweed (Centaurea)
  • Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)
  • Leafcup (Polymnia canadensis)
  • Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
  • Marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens)
  • Marigold (Tagetes)
  • Marsh elder (Iva annua)
  • Milfoil (Achillea millefolium)
  • Mountain tobacco (Arnica montana)
  • Mugwort (Artemisia)
  • Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
  • Pathfinder (Adenocaulon bicolor)
  • Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea)
  • Pot marigold (Calendula)
  • Poverty weed (Franseria)
  • Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum)
  • Rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus)
  • Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
  • Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
  • Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
  • Sagebrush (Artemesia)
  • Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
  • Skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea)
  • Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
  • Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
  • Star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
  • Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens)
  • Strawflower (Gnaphalium sandwicensium)
  • Sumpweed (Iva annua)
  • Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
  • Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
  • Tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus)
  • Thistle
  • Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
  • Viper’s grass (Scorzonera hispanica)
  • Winter tarragon (Tagetes lucida)
  • Wormwood (Artemisia)
  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  • Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)