Question
I was recently removing a dead branch from a silver maple tree in my front lawn, which has been dying for the past few years. I have climbed it numerous times with thias moss on it and was never affected, but when I was up there this last time I recieved what looks like a burn with poison ivy-like blisters. I know for a fact that there is no Poison Ivy, Sumac, or Oak on or around this tree as there are no leaves, just a moss that glows a bright green when it gets wet, and a dull blue-green when dry. I don't think it is indeed a moss, but the coloration, and it's fuzzyness kinda points me in that direction. it is a rough, and tight knit structure extending from about a foot off of the ground to the top of the tree. I think the bass isn't affected because my dog tends to urinate there. Anyway, the skin irritation has been bothering me for a week now and I've tried poison-ivy medicines as it looks similar, but that only made things a lil' worse so I decided not to put anything on it, but to keep taking my anti-itch pills, and apply burn creme to it at spacial intervals. it has swollen the inner side of my elbow to the point where I could not bend it further than 20 degrees or so, and it, as I said, looks similar to a burn as well so that is why the burn creme is being applied. I was mainly wondering what this pest is and if there was a way to speed the healing of it, and myself. I really enjoy the placement of that tree, and it used to be a wonderful site, and I would love to save it, and myself from this irritation. I have spent countless hours looking up tree diseases of Northern Indiana and can't find a single thing that points me in the right direction and I was hoping you could get a hold of me with some information. Thank you so much.

Answer
Sounds like you may be describing lichens.  Do a google search and see if the material on your tree matches some pictures.  IF it is moss or lichens I doubt this is the cause of your poison ivy type symptom, although stranger things have been reported.  I am not a doctor, so I better not give medical advise.  Make sure you dont have some type of small mite infesting your skin.  These types of critters sometimes can hang out in plants and then jump on unsuspecting animals, including humans.  There could have been somethimg in the tree that got on you when you were up there.  The moss or lichens will not kill your tree.  The are an indication that it is either old or stressed from drought.  Fertilize the tree and keep watered during dry periods.  It should survive for years to come.  I hope some of this helps.  Good Luck.