The title of this blog is a lot more inflammatory—pun intended—than the subject matter. Don’t worry, squash aren’t growing hands or developing opposable thumbs. Rather, squash hands refers to an allergic reaction that some people experience and that we just learned about. From their our research led us into the realm of squash and zucchini allergies so we thought we’d share what we learned with you. We can all benefit from a better understanding of food allergies and food safety, so let’s dig in!
Please be advised that we are not doctors and nothing we say here should be taken as medical advice. If you’re having a medical issue, contact your physician or local emergency services as needed.
Gardzen Executive Summary
· Allergies are common; they’re an autoimmune reaction to a normally benign stimulus.
· Some people are allergic to squash as a food, and others have a topical allergy to squash plants and fruits.
· This reaction can show in the garden via contact with the stems and leaves of the plant or in the kitchen where slicing up squash or zucchini can cause “squash hands”.
· “Squash hands” is generally not a big deal and goes away on its own fairly quickly.
· We should all consult a doctor if we suspect we have allergies.
Squash Plants, Allergies, and Contact Dermatitis
Most of us aren’t allergic to us; most of us don’t have food allergies. However a significant and growing number of folks do, and as gardening grows in popularity it’s important to know our own allergies and how to keep ourselves safe.
Allergies are an immune system reaction, or rather over-reaction. Our immune systems keep us safe by attacking and controlling harmful microorganisms that may find their way into our bodies. In some people, however, the immune system is overly sensitive to something in particular. This may include, food, pollen, insect bits, particular medications, molds, or animal fur/dander. Symptoms of an allergic response may include difficulty breathing, hives or skin rashes, sneezing, runny nose, irritated eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling of the mouth and throat. The latter can be dangerous as it may lead to an obstructed airway and interfere with breathing. Primary care doctors are generally equipped to test for allergies and can help us determine what we’re allergic to and a plan of care.
Humanity is large and diverse, and there’s some group of people out there who are allergic to just about anything you can think of. Squash allergies—as far as we can tell—are relatively rare but common enough to be worth knowing about. As far as we can tell (again, we’re not doctors so consult a physician) squash allergies generally manifest as a topical allergy. Contact dermatitis is a common symptom for sensitive folks who have had close contact with squash or squash plants. If you notice your skin developing a rash, or feeling hot and swollen after working with squash or zucchini plants, an allergic reaction may be the reason.
So does this extend to the kitchen? Can cooking with squash cause a topical reaction? That’s a good question and we’re glad you asked . . .
What are “Squash Hands”?
Some people have allergies to squash or zucchini, and when working with those veggies in the kitchen they may get a case of “squash hands”. The term was new to us, so much so that it inspired this article. Squash hands are a topical reaction on the skin of the hands that occur in some folks who have a squash allergy and cut up some squash or zucchini in kitchen. When the juices, flesh, and sap of some types of squash, zucchini, or even some melons gets on the skin, the body has an allergic reaction. Symptoms may include red, peeling skin that feels “tight” or a rash. Again, talk to your doctor if you experience allergy symptoms of any kind and contact emergency services if they get severe.
From what we gather, most cases of “squash hands” clear up in an hour or two. Washing the skin thoroughly helps including using a mildly abrasive squash or brush to remove the substances causing the reaction. From what we’ve read, most people who experience this topical reaction aren’t allergic to squash and may still eat it safely but again please consult your doctor with medical questions and contact emergency services if you’re having an acute medical issue.
So what causes “squash hands”? We don’t know for sure but research is ongoing. Right now the prime suspect is the sap that runs through squash vines and rinds. Perhaps ironically, this sap is part of the plants immune system and helps heal damage and prevent infection. This may be why some folks react to it but, again, the science isn’t settled as of this writing.
Avoiding Allergic Reactions and “Squash Hands”
As with all allergies, it’s better to avoid triggering a reaction than it is to treat it later. Plus, we’re not doctors and we’re not in a position to give advice about treatment. We can say that in general wearing long sleeved, loose fitting clothing is often helpful in preventing contact with irritating plants while working in the garden. Gloves are always a good idea for gardening, and disposable kitchen gloves may be helpful while preparing or cooking with squash. Our doctors can give us better advice for our personal situations, but protective clothing, gloves, and washing the hands thoroughly before and after working with potentially irritating plants or veggies are all good steps. Remember: gardening with allergies is absolutely possible and plenty of us do it!
We knew that some people were allergic to squash and zucchini as food, but “squash hands” was a new one on us. And that’s why we enjoy this blog so much; we get to learn new things, share our knowledge with our readers, and learn from them in return. If you have any tips or tricks for managing garden allergies or “squash hands”, please let us know. Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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