Nettle burn: how to reduce discomfort and avoid complications

cosmetologist-dermatovenerologist at the FNACC FMBA of Russia

“A summer walk in the fresh air can end up with skin irritation and allergic reaction if nettle thickets are on the way. Contact with this familiar plant can be a reason to seek medical attention. I will tell you what symptoms should be alerted and how to act in case of nettle burn”.

Causes of burns from nettles

With burns from contact with nettles, perhaps, at least once faced every child and adult. The stinging properties of the plant are explained by the special structure of its stems and leaves. Hair trichomes covering their surface look like needles filled with liquid. Upon contact with the skin, the tip breaks off and a mixture of formic acid, histamine and choline pours out. This is what causes burns and painful sensations.

The plant’s protective properties prevent animals from eating nettles. Humans suffer from the effects of chemicals when they try to remove weeds with bare hands or come in contact with them when walking.

By sensation, a nettle burn resembles the sting of a bee or other insect. Direct contact causes an immediate reaction on the skin. In the first seconds, the victim feels pain, after which there are characteristic blisters that rise above the rest of the skin surface.

Symptoms of nettle burn

The danger of nettles lies in possible allergic reactions to the substance in its trichomes. Their consequences can be severe, especially in children. Nettle allergy is characterized by such symptoms as increased body temperature, weakness, development of skin swelling, increased heart rate. A dangerous complication is shortness of breath. It can be seen that the symptoms of allergy to nettle are specific. To establish the exact cause of ill health, additional laboratory tests may be needed.

Regardless of the tendency to allergy, nettle always causes a burn when in contact with the skin. Its symptoms are noticeable itching, redness of the affected area, swelling. As a rule, the burned skin is hotter. Blisters usually go away on their own after 10 minutes, but may persist for up to 12 hours.

In rare cases, bulging spots appear as rashes on different parts of the body even after several days. This indicates the development of contact dermatitis – a disease of allergic nature, the main symptom of which are blisters on the skin from pale pink to dark red.

The rash is accompanied not only by itching, but also by other manifestations of allergic reaction: bronchospasms, Quincke’s edema, allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis. With a single rash can talk about the acute course of the disease, if they are repeated after six weeks, it means that contact dermatitis has acquired a chronic form.

First aid for burns from nettles

A fresh burn should be rinsed urgently with cold water. After that, it is recommended to wipe the affected area with an alcohol solution. To cool the burned area, reduce itching and burning, it is recommended to use compresses with ice. Sometimes nettle hairs remain on the skin. Remove them without unnecessary traumatization will help medical plaster or adhesive tape.

After processing the burned area, it is necessary to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. It is strictly forbidden to touch the eyes with dirty hands. The final stage is the application of a soothing gel or cream to the skin.

When in contact with nettle should not warm the affected areas, take a hot bath or shower. It is forbidden to lubricate burns with oil and other means that form a film on the skin. This significantly delays the healing process. You can not also rub blisters with your hands.

If an allergic reaction occurs, you need to be especially careful to monitor your well-being. It is not enough to localize unpleasant symptoms with the help of external remedies. Allergic people should provide themselves with comprehensive help. First of all, an antihistamine should be taken. In addition to drugs in the form of tablets, you can use anti-allergic gels and ointments.

When you should seek medical help

If the signs of burn persist for several days, there is pain in the affected area, and the area of damaged skin increases in size, it is necessary to seek medical attention. It is especially dangerous if an allergic reaction develops in the neck and face. This can provoke swelling of the larynx and impair breathing.

Prevention of burns from nettles

Spring and summer is the time of recreation in nature and on the dacha plot. To avoid unpleasant contact with nettles, you should use closed clothing. First of all, this applies to children, since their skin is the most sensitive. Regular maintenance of the garden area and removal of weeds will reduce the risk of burns. Protective clothing and gloves should be worn when working on the site.

When nettles grow on the plot or in the garden, it is necessary to treat the territory by mechanical means: digging up the soil, destroying the weed manually and with the help of agricultural machinery. If burns cannot be avoided and an acute inflammatory process or an allergic reaction occurs that cannot be treated with antihistamines, medical attention should be sought immediately.