For those of us who love the outdoors, summer time is a real blessing and it does give you a chance to explore and come in closer contact with nature. This is also the source of most our problems as this close proximity with the natural world does note bode well for us when dealing with insect bites, allergic reactions to plants or pollen, and sunburn. Our outdoor excursions put us at risk of all these environmental hazards, and it comes as no wonder that the incidence of nettle stings is so much higher at this time of the year.
Stinging nettles are herbaceous plants that exist in many parts of the world. These plants have leaves and stems that are coated with silky hairs that are brittle and hollow and contain three chemicals. These would include a histamine that acts as a skin irritant, acetylcholine which is responsible for a burning sensation, and serotonin. Direct contact with the plant that brings your bare skin in contact with it, even simply brushing against it momentarily can bring on the rash.
Under such circumstances the first thing that you need to do is to get away from the area where you got stung, so as to minimize the chances of you accidentally coming in contact with the plant again.
Cleanse the affected area of skin thoroughly with cold water and get rid of any mud residue. Use a clean towel to dab the area gently, but do not rub as this will only aggravate the pain. Do not touch the affected skin, and if you do then ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly after that as you risk transferring the small hairs responsible to the rest of your body.
Some other more specific remedies that should help you include the following:
- Use alkaline products like baking soda or cucumber, celery or avocados, by gently applying them over the sting.
- To get rid of the hairs on the skin you can simply apply some adhesive tape to the area and then rip it off, taking out the hairs with it. Similarly you can use a mud pack, literally! Just make a paste with some mud and water and apply it onto the skin. Leave it on to harden, after which you can brush it off, getting rid of the hairs as well.
- Calamine lotions or aloe vera gel can be used to sooth the skin, once the hairs have been gotten rid of.
answered by S D