It produces urushiol, a skin irritant which causes an allergic dermatitis in most people.Those who are exposed usually pick up the resin on their legs and palms and then transfer it to other areas, often their face and genitals. It only takes about 15 minutes for the resin to begin to bind with the keratin (top) layer of the skin, which then sets the inflammatory process into motion. It is noteworthy that a rash rarely breaks out on the palms, since the keratin layer of the skin is often too thick for the resin to bind there.
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