While doing some gardening or just walking in the yard, suddenly your hands and feet get pricked, pricked by thorns, and then your skin starts to turn red and itch. Have you had this experience ? We often think that this only happens with thorns like a rose bush or a bougainvillea vine. But in reality, even the most innocent-looking plants and leaves can cause problems for our skin. Let's talk about this in more detail today.
What types of trees and leaves can irritate the skin?
You can see the thorns on a cactus as soon as you see it. But there are some plants that are not so annoying. The thorns, hairs, and sharp edges on some plants can cause serious damage to our skin. Sometimes these can cause skin wounds, cuts, and scrapes. In medicine, this is sometimes called ``Contact Dermatitis'', which means an allergy that occurs when something comes into contact with the skin.
In general, we can see these characteristics in plants that irritate our skin.
| The annoying part | Examples and descriptions |
|---|---|
| Sharp-edged or pointed leaves | Plants like Agave or Yucca have very sharp, needle-like leaves. They can cut or tear your skin if you get too close. Some ornamental plants like Pampas grass may look very smooth, but the edges of their leaves are razor-sharp. They can also easily cut your skin. |
| Thorns | This is not surprising. Many beautiful plants, such as rose bushes and bougainvillea vines, have thorns. It is very common to get pricked by these while working in the garden. |
| Special spines and glochids | We can see the spines of a typical cactus. But some types of cactus, like the Prickly Pear, have very fine, hair-like spines. These are called glochids. These are embedded in the skin with even the slightest touch, and are so delicate that they are not visible to the naked eye and are very difficult to remove. |
| Hairs on the stems and leaves | Some plants have very fine, hairy hairs on their stems and leaves. These can sting and turn red when touched. Since they look harmless, we don't think they're a problem. |
| Irritant Fibers | Did you know that even tulip bulbs can cause skin irritation? The fibers are so small that we don't think of tulip bulbs as dangerous. However, people who regularly touch tulip bulbs can develop a condition called "tulip fingers." This is caused by a chemical reaction between the fibers and the bulbs, which causes an allergic reaction on the skin. |
What do you do when you get hurt or have a skin rash?
We get worried when we get a sting, a rash , or a red spot on our skin that we have to scratch. But remember, no matter what kind of skin allergy we have, the first thing we need to do is take very good care of it so that it doesn't get worse.
Simply put, we need to properly care for the wound.
1. Clean the wound
The first thing to do is to wash and clean the affected area thoroughly using a mild soap and water. Never use anything like rubbing alcohol, as this can dry out the skin further and increase the irritation.
2. Remove the thorns
If there are large spines visible to the naked eye, use tweezers to carefully remove them. As mentioned earlier, if the very fine, hair -like spines ``glochids`` are stuck in, there are two ways to remove them.
- Tape method: Take a piece of cellophane tape and stick it to the area where the thorns are stuck, then remove it several times. The tape will stick and the thorns will come off.
- The glue method: Another method that has been found through research is to apply a little household glue to the affected area, place a piece of gauze over it, leave it on for about 30 minutes, and then remove it. It is said that this method can remove many fine thorns.
3. Reduce pain and itching
The best and simplest way to reduce inflammation and itching on the skin is to apply a clean cloth soaked in cold water to the wound. Leave it on for about 15 minutes.
For minor irritations and itching, you can use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or an antihistamine to reduce itching. However, it is safest to consult your doctor before using any medication.
4. Heal the skin with moisture
If there is only a small cut on the skin, applying a little pure petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) to it will help the wound heal faster, as it provides the skin with the necessary moisture.
5. Cover with a Band-Aid
It's a good idea to put a band-aid on the wound to protect it during the day. But removing the band-aid at night while you sleep and allowing air to reach the wound will help it heal faster.
6. Watch for signs of infection
This is the most important thing. When you have a cut on your skin, germs can enter and cause an infection. If the cut doesn't heal after a few days, if it's oozing pus, if it's getting red, or if you feel warm in the area, it could be a sign of an infection.
If you see any of these symptoms, it could be a sign that an infection is developing. If so, see your doctor immediately.**
How to protect yourself from such troubles?
" Prevention is better than cure," they say. So, it's best to protect yourself from such troubles.
The first thing is to be aware of your surroundings, because sometimes these plants can come into contact with us in unexpected ways.
- When working in the garden or walking in the woods, if you think there might be these annoying plants, wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants .
- Be sure to wear gloves when working in the garden.
- Use a good moisturizer to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Healthy skin is like a good protective barrier. It reduces the risk of minor allergies.
Take-Home Message
- Even some seemingly innocent plants can damage your skin and cause irritation, so be aware of your surroundings.
- If the skin is irritated or cut, first wash it thoroughly with soap. If there are visible thorns, carefully remove them with tweezers.
- You can use cellophane tape or gum to remove fine thorns that are not visible to the eye.
- To reduce itching and inflammation, apply cold water. If necessary, consult your doctor and use an appropriate cream.
- If the wound becomes red, oozes pus, or feels warm, it may be infected. Seek medical advice immediately.
- Prevention is best. Wear long clothing and gloves when working in the garden.
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