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Stinging nettle is its defensive reaction. On the leaves and shoots of this plant there are small hairs, hollow inside, which pierce the skin, and then a mixture of chemical components enters the wound: histamine, choline and formic acid – they cause redness and itching.
Usually a nettle burn does not lead to any serious consequences, but some people, in particular children, can have a rather strong allergic reaction.
Nettle burn symptoms
Symptoms of a nettle burn are known to everyone:
- pain that usually goes away after 3 to 5 minutes
- redness;
- feeling hot on the skin;
- itching;
- blisters.
Usually, these symptoms pass quite quickly, they last a maximum of a day.
But if the skin is tender and there is a tendency to allergies (this is often the case in children), more dangerous symptoms may appear:
- heat;
- cardiopalmus;
- allergy on a large area of the body;
- severe itching;
- angioedema.
In this case, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
How to quickly relieve itching from a nettle burn
“Nettle burns are painful, the blisters are very itchy, but by and large they are not life-threatening, unless it is an allergic person who reacts to nettle poison,” says doctor-immunologist, pathophysiologist Alena Paretskaya. – But the very sensation of itching, especially if it is a child, is extremely unpleasant and painful, although it disappears within a few hours. So, what should be done with a nettle burn?
- immediately eliminate repeated contact with the plant;
- carefully examine the affected area, how pronounced the burn is (usually it is redness and small tubercles);
- rinse the affected area in cold water (without soap and washcloths) to wash off the remnants of the “needles” of the nettle from the skin;
- do not rub your face and eyes with unwashed hands;
- in the presence of allergies or if we are talking about children under 3 years old – give an antihistamine in an age-appropriate dose.
What you should not do is warm the burn area and rinse it with hot water.
How to treat a nettle burn
If there is no allergic reaction, no specific treatment is required. Therapy may be needed in case of an allergic reaction.
Diagnostics
First, your doctor will ask you about the cause of your allergy. If necessary, skin tests can be performed if the cause is not obvious – something else, or a complex of allergens, could cause the problem. And depending on the results, treatment will be prescribed.
Modern treatments
An allergic reaction to nettles is usually treated with antihistamines. These can be tablets or antihistamine ointments if the allergy is local.
Prevention of nettle burns at home
The best prevention is to avoid contact with nettles. Weed the area with tight gloves. And try to weed out or mow nettles in the country so that children do not climb into it. Show your child what nettles look like and explain why they shouldn’t be touched.
Going out into the countryside, wear thick clothing with long sleeves and trouser legs.
Popular questions and answers
We asked you to answer popular questions immunologist, pathophysiologist Alena Paretskaya.