A dangerous plant is spreading through the nation like wildfire, and touching it can have very bad effects on your health. Things have gotten so bad that officials in numerous states are warning people of the dangers of touching the giant hogweed.

This plant has been found in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, New Hampshire, Michigan, Vermont, and Maine in the past, and now it has also spread to Virginia.

Though this plant is pretty to look at, touching it can leave you with lifelong damage. The giant hogweed sap has a chemical known as “photosensitizing furanocoumarins,” and when it comes into contact with skin, the sap’s chemicals make skin extremely sensitive to light. This sensitivity can then cause third-degree burns and long-term skin issues.

Giant hogweeds are typically 8-14 feet tall and include a cluster of small white flowers in “umbrella formation.” The plant has dark green, lobed leaves that can stretch more than 5 feet wide and also has a hollow stem with purple speckles and white hairs.

The New Jersey Department of Health warns that if you touch a giant hogweed, you need to act quickly. If you touch it, you should immediately get out of the sun and splash the area with cold water. You should then rinse the area thoroughly with soap and apply sunscreen to the affected area or keep it covered for months after initial contact.

“Do not mow, cut or weed whack the plant, as it will just send up new growth and put you at risk for being exposed to sap — the same kind of thing that would happen with poison ivy or sumac. Seek advice from professional plant control specialists about management options,” New York state officials warn. “If you must touch giant hogweed, wear disposable rubber gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and pants. If you get sap on your clothes, carefully remove the clothing to avoid skin and eye contact and wash separately from other clothing with warm water and detergent.”

This is not a plant that you should mess around with! Find out more about this dangerous plant in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!