The Yam peels contains calcium oxalate / saponins juice when comes in contact with the

skin starts to itch. This is known as Contact Dermatitis. It causes redness and itching for
some time and is irritating.

The peels from Elephant foot yam contains tiny crystals of calcium oxalate and saponins.
These are found abundantly in the peels and inner vegetable tissues. They ooze out on
cutting and cause allergic reaction like skin itching and oral toxicity (itchiness in throat
and mouth) when consumed. Washing suran slices in tamarind water or butter milk can
reduce itchiness in throat and mouth.

Here are few tips that can be used to avoid the itchiness.

• Firstly before you peel the yam, make sure you don’t wash them, because
when you wash them the juice will flow in while cutting and cause itchiness.
Thus do not wash them.
• You can use a rubber gloves while cutting them.
• Apply Coconut oil in your hands before cutting.
• Baking the yam helps to peel the skin faster.

By mistake if the juice falls in your hands, you can apply the red palm oil or peppermint
oil immediately to stop the itching.