Unlike other plants that cause skin irritation, giant hogweed doesn't affect people ... the weed causes a reaction called phytophotodermatitis, leaving burns, blisters, and purplish-black scars ...

In short - the sap of giant hogweed can cause burns. It contains furocoumarin, which makes skin extremely sensitive to sunlight. “If the sap gets onto your skin and it's then exposed to the sun ...

Oskars Mezhniyeks has spent eight years trying to stop the spread of giant hogweed, an invasive toxic ... The sap can cause severe blistering if it touches skin that’s exposed to the sun.