Hogweed photo of burns on the body

Hogweed is a common plant in mid-latitudes. There are almost forty varieties of it. However, the greatest danger to humans is hogweed, its poisonous species - Sosnowski. Burns from this species of hogweed can lead to death.

What is hogweed?

Hogweed is a plant that resembles dill in appearance. Its leaves occupy an intermediate position between burdock and thistle. Most species reach a height of only 30–40 cm, but Sosnowski's hogweed is an exception. During the period of active flowering, which occurs in August, the height of the stem can reach 5–6 m, and the diameter of the inflorescence can be 80. The sap of the plant can cause harm to humans.

The produced liquid is rich in essential oils, which contain furanocoumarins - substances with sensitizing properties. When it comes into contact with the surface of the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, a burn develops. In fact, it is the result of a complex chemical reaction that hogweed juice undergoes when exposed to sunlight. This is taken into account when choosing a method of therapy.

Signs of a hogweed burn

In most cases, the first symptoms of a hogweed burn appear some time after contact with the plant. In the absence of direct sunlight, a burn may not appear. This is confirmed by cases when, in cloudy weather, persons in contact with hogweed do not notice changes on the skin. However, in most cases, after 1-3 hours a dark spot appears on the skin, followed by redness. This is what burns from hogweed initially look like. The intensity of the changes depends on the time that has passed since contact with the plant.

What does a hogweed burn look like?

A few hours after touching the plant, patients notice a dark spot at the site of contact. After a day, sometimes even several, it gives way to blisters with liquid. Over time, they increase in size and connect with each other. Outwardly, they resemble blisters that form during a second-degree thermal burn. After 3–5 days, the hogweed burn (photo below), the blister, becomes less pronounced.

If accidentally touched, the integrity of the bubble is violated, which bursts. The contents leak out. At this stage, it is necessary to pay close attention to the emerging erosion in order to prevent infection. Secondary infections in hogweed burns are common and significantly increase the wound healing period. In its place a crust forms, which lasts for two weeks.

How dangerous are burns from hogweed?

A small burn from hogweed does not pose a health hazard. However, this does not mean that there is no need for its treatment. Patients with this type of burn should regularly cleanse the damaged skin surface, especially after opening the blisters. Otherwise, there is a risk of infection: a pathogenic microorganism can get into burns from hogweed, causing an abscess or suppuration.

Doctors are concerned about hogweed burns, which affect large areas of the body. According to experts, when 80% of the skin surface is burned, death occurs. Timely and competent medical care and proper treatment can eliminate such consequences of a hogweed burn.

First aid for hogweed burns

Most patients do not know what to do in case of a hogweed burn. This problem often causes late initiation of therapy. The duration of the recovery period directly depends on the timely measures taken and competently carried out treatment of the skin. If you are burned by hogweed, the victim often does not know what to do or what measures to take.

The algorithm of actions when plant juice gets on the surface of the skin should be as follows:

1. Wash the surface of the skin thoroughly with soap to reduce the risk of burns from hogweed.
2. Avoid exposure to sunlight for 3 days by any means (wearing long sleeves, avoiding going outside).

If contact with hogweed was not noticed, which often happens with children, and a stain or blisters appear, you must proceed as follows:

1. the affected area is washed with an antiseptic solution (Furacilin, Chlorhexidine);
2. apply a dry gauze bandage;
3. It is forbidden to open blisters - this will slow down the healing process.

Hogweed burn - how to treat it?

After a hogweed burn has occurred, treatment at home begins immediately. In this case, the features of therapy depend on the volume of the lesion and the location of the burn, the stage of the regenerative process. The following groups of drugs are used as medicines to treat burns from hogweed:

1. antiseptic drugs;
2. painkillers;
3. enterosorbents;
4. antihistamines.

Ointment for hogweed burns

To speed up the recovery and healing process, you need to know how and what to apply to hogweed burns. The affected area should be covered with a dry gauze bandage throughout the entire treatment period. Doctors recommend changing it at least 2 times a day so that the gauze is not wet, as these are favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and the development of infection. Its accession may be indicated by:

1. cloudiness of the contents of the blisters;
2. cloudy pus from the wound;
3. golden crusts around the perimeter of the affected area;
4. hyperemia of the wound edge.

To eliminate the inflammatory process, when erosive surfaces appear, it is rational to use ointments with steroids. They can only be prescribed by a doctor. The duration of therapy is 5 days. Among the drugs used:

Cream for burns with hogweed

Not knowing what to apply to a hogweed burn, people try many creams and ointments in search of a cure. However, not all of them are effective in helping the wound heal quickly. Each stage of therapy requires a specific drug for local treatment. So, after opening the blisters, the erosion site is treated with healing agents in the form of creams, including:

In order to prevent infection of wound surfaces, agents with a pronounced antiseptic effect are used. These medications prevent the development of secondary inflammatory and infectious processes. They must be used regularly. Among the common ones:

Tablets for hogweed burns

In most cases, hogweed burns can be treated using local remedies. Ointments and creams, when used correctly and regularly, promote rapid healing of erosions that form at the site of former blisters. However, with extensive burns, affecting a large area of ​​skin, the patient’s well-being can quickly deteriorate. In such cases, complex treatment is required.

Therapy is aimed at alleviating suffering. Often the blisters that form cause pain. Children who have been burned by hogweed are especially worried. In such cases, anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets are used to reduce pain:

In some cases, with body burns of about 30–40%, allergic reactions may develop. In this case, antihistamines are used:

In order to reduce intoxication of the body, sorbents can be used that bind toxins and remove them from the body:

1. Smecta;
2. Activated carbon;
3. Enterosgel.

Tsindol for hogweed burns

You can provide first aid for a hogweed burn using a Tsindol suspension. This drug contains zinc oxide. This substance, when applied to the skin, has several effects at once:

1. anti-inflammatory;
2. drying;
3. absorbent;
4. antiseptic.

Tsindol has a positive effect on healing processes, reducing the intensity and severity of inflammatory processes. The product is applied to the affected areas of the skin using a cotton pad or gauze pad. The frequency and duration of use of the product are determined by the doctor. In most cases, Tsindol is applied 2-3 times a day for a week. It is better to use the product after opening the blisters, in order to dry out erosions and prevent infection.

Fukortsin for hogweed burns

Answering the question of how to treat a burn from hogweed, doctors recommend Fukortsin. This solution is effective for erosive skin lesions accompanied by pustular infection. It should be used at the stage when the blisters have already opened and the contents are gradually leaking out. The drug is absolutely safe and well tolerated (the only contraindications include individual intolerance).

The solution is applied to the affected areas of the skin, according to medical recommendations. To do this, use cotton swabs or a disk. Experts recommend applying the product 2-4 times to the surface of the skin during the day. The solution dries the skin perfectly, after which you can use healing creams and ointments.

How long does a hogweed burn last?

Burns from hogweed grass disappear completely after a month. This is due to the fact that, in addition to sensitizing properties, Sosnovsky's hogweed has genotoxic properties - it is capable of provoking mutations in the genetic material. As a result, dark spots at the site of former burns may persist for several years. However, eventually the skin regains its original color. When hogweed juice gets on the mucous membrane of the eyes, there is a risk of damage to it, which can result in blurred vision and blindness.

Do scars remain after a hogweed burn?

If burns after hogweed are not treated correctly and medical prescriptions are not followed, there is a risk of scar formation. After the appearance of erosion, the process of regeneration of the skin begins. Constant contact of the skin with the external environment, frequent trauma to the crusts formed on the surface increases the duration of the regeneration process and the risk of scar formation. The use of special creams and ointments allows you to avoid this cosmetic defect.

Is it possible to wash with hogweed burns?

Not knowing how to behave, patients, faced with a problem, ask specialists whether it is possible to bathe if they are burned by hogweed. Doctors recommend washing completely almost immediately after contact with the plant - this will help reduce the volume of the burn and the area affected. If this is not possible, you can wash after the blisters appear. You must be careful not to damage them. After washing, you must immediately treat burns with medication.

A powerful giant with large inflorescences and leaves collected in basal rosettes, hogweed often evokes a momentary desire to take an ax and collect a bouquet that will make everyone envy. Well, or at least take a photo hugging a giant.

The uninitiated are in for an unpleasant surprise - painful and long-healing burns from hogweed, after which scars and stains remain. Hogweed juice gets on the skin and reacts with sunlight, causing phytophotodermatitis. And the sunnier the day, the worse the burns.

Symptoms of burns from hogweed

Even minor superficial trauma to the skin from plant poison can cause:

1. dizziness;
2. headache;
3. weakness;
4. nausea;
5. temperature rise.

Damage to more than 80% of the skin surface by hogweed juice often leads to death!

Hogweed poison is most dangerous for children and fair-skinned people. The degree of burns is also influenced by the duration of contact with the plant and exposure to the sun, individual sensitivity and location of the burn. When contacting the plant, areas of delicate, thin, untanned skin will suffer the most.

Hogweed burns are classified as chemical burns. They arise due to the reaction of furocoumarins contained in the plant juice with ultraviolet radiation. Damage can vary: from itching and redness - with minimal contact, to large blisters and poorly healing ulcers - with abundant contact of the active substance on the skin.

What burns from hogweed look like, photo

First aid

The main rule is don’t panic!

1. First of all, wash the affected areas with plenty of water, preferably with soap suds or adding soda.
2. If you don’t have water at hand: cover the affected areas of your body from the sun with clothing (thick fabric), and immediately go home to shaded areas.
3. If the plant juice gets into your eyes, rinse them immediately with running water! The procedure should be performed for at least 15 minutes.
4. If a toxic substance gets into the oral cavity, rinse your mouth for 15-20 minutes, constantly changing the water.

If the victim did not notice the contact with the hogweed (this happens, for example, in the case of children) and the consequences have already appeared:

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1. Treat damaged skin with a solution of any antiseptic that does not contain alcohol.
2. Bandage the damaged surface with a clean, dry bandage.

What is forbidden to do in case of burns?

It is worth remembering a number of actions that are prohibited in case of phytoburns caused by contact with hogweed juice and leaves:

1. Do not treat the burned surface with alcohol or alcohol-containing solutions under any circumstances: this will quickly dry out the already injured skin.
2. Do not lubricate burns with petroleum jelly or other fats: this leads to clogging and lack of oxygen in the damaged areas of the skin.
3. Do not go out into the sun, especially do not sunbathe, during the entire period of treatment, and especially in the first 2-3 days.
4. Do not open the resulting blisters: this not only risks introducing infection into open wounds, but also increases the duration of wound healing.

Treatment of burns from hogweed

Practicing doctor - cosmetologist, dermatologist, venereologist, infectious disease specialist, trichologist. 9 years of experience. Doctor of the highest category and specialist of the skindiary website. ru. Helps people with skin diseases, problems with nails and hair of various etiologies and genesis.

Several decades ago, this plant was used to feed large livestock. With the development of agricultural science, this method of feeding has ceased to be relevant. However, this does not prevent hogweed from spreading, covering vast fields. Unfortunately, not many people know that contact can cause burns from hogweed.

General information

Secondary indicators: fever, problems with bowel movements, rapid heartbeat, sweating.

First aid

Immediately after an accident, do not allow the victim and the plant to come into contact again. Try to complete the steps below as quickly as possible, which will allow the victim to recover faster. List of recommended actions:

1. rinse the area of ​​contact with cold water (at least 10-15 minutes);
2. in the presence of large blisters, rinsing is not recommended;
3. wash the wound (if one has formed) with peroxide or a weak concentrate of furatsilin;
4. use traditional drugs (Panthenol, Spasatel, Olazol);
5. provide the patient with peace and do not expose him to direct sunlight;
6. take any anti-allergen drug and pain reliever;
7. seek qualified help.

Not recommended actions

Even if you decide to undergo treatment at home, you should not do the following:

1. pierce the formed bubbles;
2. apply fatty ointments or oil to the injury site;
3. sunbathe in the sun or go to a solarium.

Treatment

A huge number of users are interested in how to treat burns from hogweed. By following all the rules of traditional treatment, the recovery period will be shortened several times. Qualified specialists prescribe topical and oral medications. Medicines have antibacterial, antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

How specifically to treat burns from hogweed:

1. charcoal (activated) – oral administration, removes toxins;
2. Suprastin, Loratodin, Zodak are powerful anti-allergenic agents (since the hogweed plant causes increased production of histamine);
3. Levomekol is an antibacterial medicine, relieves inflammation, unpleasant symptoms and prevents purulent formations;
4. Panthenol is a remedy for burns, cools the skin and promotes its accelerated regeneration.

Alternative medicine

Plants like hogweed often leave a burning burn; some patients prefer to fix this problem themselves. It is absolutely logical that the attending physician will give more recommendations and examine injuries better, but if you still decide to self-medicate, use the following recipes:

1. apply a cold (previously brewed) black tea bag to the affected area;
2. a decoction of oak bark (after cooling) is suitable for rinsing;
3. aloe juice is suitable as a base for compresses;
4. grated potatoes with sauerkraut are laid out on cheesecloth and wrapped around the offended area.

Preventive measures

The main thing is to avoid contact with the plant; any (even minimal) contact can lead to unpleasant consequences. First of all, you should familiarize yourself and tell others about possible injuries and symptoms. It is easy to remove the plant from the site using garden tools or working with rubber gloves.

The most dangerous period is summer; flowering hogweed is especially harmful.

After returning home, be sure to wash your clothes and wash your hands with soap. When the first symptoms appear, use special medications (described above). Be careful and beware of unknown flora.

Even if you have a strong desire to scratch the burn site, do not do it. Otherwise, you will face an extensive inflammatory process and other dangerous pathologies. It is better to apply a dry bandage and apply cold afterwards.

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