Tulip Finger Skin Disease

Tulip bulbs, as well as other parts of the plant, especially the flowers, contain substances that can bring about severe dermatitis. People affected by this condition are those, for example, who have to handle tulip bulbs a great deal. The tulip bulb dermatitis ("tulip finger," "tulip itch," "tulip nails") is characterized by eczema-like changes in the skin of the contact surfaces of the hand, especially finger tips, and by damage to the nails (increased brittleness). On the red, swollen skin fissure and scaling may develop.

The causative allergens are substances located in the outer layers of the bulbs and are known as tuliposides. In the plant, they are protective antibiotics. Chemically, they are esters of glucose. On hydrolysis, tuliposides are converted to lactones called tulipalins (for example, tuliposide A (Α-methylene-Γ-hydroxybutyric acid) converts to tulipalin A (α-methylene-Γ-butyrolactone). Although tulipalin occurs throughout the tulip plant, the bulb and the pistils contain the highest concentrations. Tulipalin penetrates vinyl latex gloves, but not nitrile gloves.