How long does a hogweed burn take to heal?

Photochemical burns from hogweed juice

Hogweed blight is a serious problem during the summer months. This extremely stable and powerful weed is capable of crushing any plant with the shadow of its leaves, and therefore is spreading in central Russia more and more every year. Hogweed leaves do not contain thorns and touching it is not painful, even pleasant. It is not the surface of the plant that is dangerous, but its juice.

The photo shows Sosnovsky's hogweed

After contact with hogweed juice (cut off stumps of the plant - most often) and then insolation (stay in open sunlight) of this area, after 4-5 days, sometimes earlier, the skin begins to darken, in the form of spots with clear boundaries. There are no unpleasant sensations.

Next, bubbles appear in the darkest place, at first there are many of them, they are small, but very quickly (within a day) they merge and often turn into one - gigantic in size, covering the entire area of ​​the burn. The blisters are tense, rising above the skin level to 0.5-1 cm, filled with transparent contents, single-cavity. As long as the bubble is intact, again it does not cause any unpleasant sensations. Children look at the bubble with interest, stroke it, pull it, bite it, etc.

But as soon as the serous fluid is released from the bladder, or even worse, the tire is torn off, the extremely painful skin of the bottom is exposed, and here the wound begins to hurt greatly. It hurts on its own, but the most severe pain is caused by touching the wound, the most gentle, for example, with clothes, even with a feather from a pillow. Experienced people try to keep the bubble as long as possible, but even if you don’t touch it at all, after 4-5 days it will become flabby and burst on its own.

The phase of excessive weeping ends in 4-5 days, and even if the bubble has not burst, the liquid is absorbed (but more often, flows out) and the lid of the bubble sticks to the bottom of the wound. A hyperpigmented (darkened) crust forms, thin, at first it is tender and easily removed, then it dries and adheres tightly to the bottom of the wound, becoming dry. The wound in this place is very painful at the slightest touch. The scab cracks, crumbles, touches clothes and at the same time hurts greatly; children cover it with their hand and take care of it, fearing pain.

The pain persists for at least 1-2 weeks and gradually goes away. The crust lasts for 2-3 weeks and then crumbles away from the edges like any other scab, revealing a bright pink, smooth, shiny surface of new skin. As the skin under the scab heals, so does its soreness. By the end of the third week, the scab is very itchy, children scratch and happily pick at the edges with their fingernails, peeling off dark pieces of the scab. Dark spots at the site of severe burns may remain for several years. Then the skin completely restores its normal color.

If you notice that a child has spilled hogweed juice on himself (there is especially a lot of it in the “stumps” of mown hogweed bushes), immediately and thoroughly wash these areas of skin with copious amounts of running water and soap.

Then dry and cover these areas with dark clothing from sunlight. Over the next 7-14 days, you should protect these areas of skin from exposure to sunlight as much as possible - this will reduce the severity of tissue damage, and may even completely prevent burns (the juice itself, without subsequent exposure to the sun, will not cause any reaction on the skin; therefore, Hogweed almost never causes burns in cloudy weather).

Getting hogweed juice into your eyes, mouth, or genitals, as well as drinking hogweed juice, is usually safe and does not require any protective action. If juice gets into your eyes, simply rinse them with water. If it gets into your mouth, rinse it out.

If you missed the moment of contact of the child with the juice and bubbles still appeared:

1. Do not rip off the blisters, do not puncture them, bandage them with a gentle bandage, and protect the integrity of the blisters for as long as possible.
2. Contact your doctor, he will prescribe local treatment. These can be lotions, creams, ointments (depending on the stage of the disease). There is anecdotal evidence of some benefit from hormonal creams for hogweed burns. But in general, this disease goes away on its own, and there is practically nothing to influence the speed of wound healing
3. Pain the child. The pain may make it difficult to sleep or move. Cover this area with a dry, loose bandage (unless your doctor prescribes otherwise), give ibuprofen or paracetamol syrup 2-3 times a day.
4. Monitor for secondary bacterial infection. The wet surface of a hogweed burn is an ideal entry point for secondary infection. Signs of a secondary infection are: cloudiness of the contents of the blisters, separation of a cloudy, foul-smelling exudate (pus), the formation of golden crusts along the periphery of the lesions, redness and swelling of the edges of the wounds, a noticeable increase in pain and an increase in local skin temperature.
5. Give your child more fluids. Let him drink 1-2 liters a day, gradually, little by little but often. Wet surfaces, especially large ones, can lead to dehydration
6. If the blisters occupy a large volume of skin (more than 3-10 of the child’s palms in area), the doctor will most likely suggest hospitalization in a hospital. If secondary complications occur, the same applies. Do not refuse hospitalization if the doctor insists on it - the situation can be quite dangerous.

With small areas of lesions and proper management of wounds, the disease resolves safely on its own in 2-4 weeks.

Tell your child about the dangers of hogweed, remind him from time to time, test his knowledge. Do not allow children to play in the shade of hogweed thickets. Do not allow children to walk barefoot on grass clippings if there are hogweed stumps (thick tubes filled with sap) there. Do not let them play with the cut leaves, chop the hogweed with a stick, or tear it with your hands.

If you mow hogweed thickets yourself, do it in cloudy weather and protect all parts of your body as much as possible with waterproof clothing.

Why are burns from Sosnovsky's hogweed dangerous?

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There are herbs known to everyone, “communication” with which you should avoid. The director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Vladimir Korsun told us which of them can be dangerous to health.

Don't stand under the hogweed!

— One of the most serious poisoners of plants is Sosnovsky's hogweed. Unlike its harmless brother, the Siberian hogweed, this resident of the forests near Moscow is very, very dangerous.

If an adult plant (can be about three meters in height) is torn or chopped, its juice, getting on the skin, causes severe burns, up to 1st degree. The juice contains a substance that makes the skin very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. All parts of the plant are dangerous - leaves, stems, fruits. Even a simple touch is enough for the poisonous juice to get on the skin and inflammation to form under the influence of sunlight. Moreover, the juice can get on the skin even through clothing.

If the juice splashes very abundantly, then blisters filled with liquid form on the skin. They take a very, very long time to heal, leaving ulcers and later spots and scars.

If the hogweed juice splashes very abundantly, then blisters filled with liquid form on the skin. Photo: OCSP Facebook

They take a very, very long time to heal, leaving ulcers and later spots and scars! Photo: OCSP Facebook

It is best, of course, not to touch this giant at all (by the way, the plant is safe at a young age, so it is better to mow it when young at dachas). If juice gets on your body, wash it off immediately with water. If there is no water, then carefully cover the area with something and run home in the shade. Do not let the sun's rays touch the damaged area.

At home, rinse thoroughly with running water. To relieve itching, make lotions from strong black tea, oak bark, and burnet root for 2–3 days. They will dry the burn and relieve inflammation. Attention: a hogweed burn is a chemical burn, so anti-burn agents such as panthenol spray will not help.

Dark spots or even scars may remain on the skin for a long time if the burn was severe.

In cloudy weather, when there is no sun, hogweed is safe. The furocoumarins it contains act as photosensitizers: absorbing sunlight, most of its energy is converted into chemical reactions, which cause a burn. After recovery, the skin at the burn sites darkens for a long time, since photosensitizers stimulate the formation of the color pigment in the skin - melanin.

Buttercup - not for bouquets

Buttercup is a poisonous plant, despite its pretty yellow flowers.

If it is picked, the juice that gets on the skin causes an allergic reaction - irritation, hives-like blisters, and abscesses.

Buttercup is a poisonous plant, despite its pretty yellow flowers.

Rinse immediately with running water. Then the area where the juice gets in should be wiped with apple cider vinegar - this will relieve the itching and reduce blisters. If you are prone to skin allergies, take an antihistamine and lubricate the damaged area with an anti-allergenic gel such as fenistil.

It may itch and itch for several days.

Nettle - benefit or harm?

The familiar and well-known nettle, which grows wherever there is soil, also causes unpleasant burns.

Its leaves are covered with small hairs - they burn. At the slightest touch, the head of the hair breaks off and the sharp edges pierce the skin, and caustic juice gets into the wound. It contains histamine, which causes tissue inflammation, choline and formic acid.

Nettle leaves are covered with small hairs - they burn!

Rinsing with water won't help much here, because the juice gets under the skin and not on it. Menovazin ointment or apple cider vinegar solution will help relieve itching.

Nettle burn is unpleasant, but not life-threatening, and in some ways even useful - formic acid in small doses can relieve pain. Some even treat rheumatism with it.

DANGEROUS BEAUTY IN FLOWERS

We don’t even suspect that bright lush flowers in the country can be dangerous. Especially for kids who are used to putting everything bright and unusual into their mouths. Deputy Director of the Institute of Phytotherapy, herbalist Elena Korsun helps us figure out who is who among the inhabitants of the flowerbeds.

Black nightshade (or, rather, dark blue) in its mature state is quite edible - even pies were baked from its berries in villages. But while it is immature, it can cause poisoning. But the foliage of this plant is always poisonous.

Bittersweet nightshade (with red berries) contains solanine, which is found in both green and ripe berries. This is a deadly poisonous substance. Also poisonous is a decorative type of nightshade (with large attractive bright red berries) - Cuban cherry.

Black nightshade (or, rather, dark blue) in its mature state is quite edible - even pies were baked from its berries in villages!

This is an unpretentious garden plant loved by many. It is not the flowers that are considered the most poisonous, but the young shoots and seeds. As a rule, the plant accumulates the maximum of harmful alkaloids during growth and flowering.

Delphinium is a favorite unpretentious garden plant.

A burning sensation in the mouth, nausea and slow heartbeat is caused by accidentally or deliberately swallowing a piece of the plant. Even if you inhale the smell for a short time, you can feel symptoms similar to intoxication.

Residential janitors like to plant this bright, spectacular plant near residential buildings. It requires almost no care, and pleases the eye until the coldest weather.

Meanwhile, castor bean fruits - funny “hedgehogs”, and even more so, their “filling” - can be deadly poisonous. Contains the substances ricin and ricinin (cyanide).

Residential janitors like to plant castor beans near residential buildings.

Literally 2-3 seeds can fatally infect the liver and kidneys and destroy lung cells.

This modest plant can even poison the water in which you place the bouquet. And all because its leaves contain a considerable dose of the deadly convallatoxin. This dangerous substance is found both in flowers and in the pretty red berries that form after flowering. Even a small part of the plant eaten can cause uneven contractions of the heart muscle, headaches and even hallucinations.

Lily of the valley can even poison the water in which you place the bouquet.

It is recommended to work with lily of the valley only with gloves. because even a drop of juice that gets into an inconspicuous wound can cause poisoning.

The lush inflorescences of white, pink or lilac flowers of this plant are poisonous, like all its other parts.

The pollen of this plant causes tears and a runny nose even in those who do not suffer from allergies.

If you chew a flower or leaf, profuse salivation and lacrimation begins, developing into vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, a slowing of the pulse and, as a result, coma.

Its pollen causes tears and runny noses even in those who do not suffer from allergies. And toxins contained in the leaves, stems and flowers can cause seizures, suffocation and kidney failure.

No less poisonous is a relative of rhododendron - mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Its pollen can cause tears even in people who have not previously suffered from allergies. And toxins contained in flowers and leaves can cause suffocation and seizures.

More wonderful poisoners

— Hydrangea, blooming from summer to autumn with lush blue flowers. Don't even think about chewing them! However, like the leaves. The entire plant is poisonous.

— Daffodils (their season is already over, but forewarned is forearmed). Even the smell of daffodils has a toxic effect: if you are with a bouquet of these delicate flowers in a closed room, it will give you a headache. The core of the flower is especially poisonous.

— Foxglove, whose multi-colored bells decorate flower beds. The upper leaves contain high concentrations of dangerous substances - digitonins. Toxic to both people and pets.

— Oleander is a beautiful lush shrub with fragrant small flowers. The whole thing is poisonous. Even one leaf can cause serious poisoning in a small child, problems with cardiac and nervous activity.

— Elderberry is red and herbal (not black) - their leaves and roots, and especially the berries, are very poisonous. Contains the harmful substance amygdalin.

— Forest or common honeysuckle. I often plant it as an ornamental plant. Also called “wolf berry”. Its beautiful red berries ripen in July-August. Inedible, very poisonous.

Dangerous hogweed. How to avoid burns?

“Starting from the end of June and until mid-August, we usually receive several people every day who have suffered from contact with hogweed,” says the surgeon, senior researcher at the Moscow City Burn Center of the Research Institute of Emergency Medicine named after. N.V. Sklifosovsky Valery Borisov. – As a rule, such patients require hospitalization, since most of them did not immediately seek medical help. Many people do this only after the temperature has risen, weakness has arisen, and blisters have begun to appear on the skin. Patients with minor lesions are treated on an outpatient basis in emergency rooms or clinics and usually do not reach us.

Hogweed burns can be very dangerous and require intensive care, as they are often accompanied by a severe allergic reaction. More often it occurs in children and weakened patients. Poisonous and dangerous plants in the country. Reference

Usually, burns from hogweed are accompanied by severe itching and increased pigmentation of the skin, but with proper treatment it goes away within 3–6 months. Fortunately, in recent years, burns from hogweed have decreased somewhat, which is due to people's awareness. But there are still many such patients. And, as experience shows, they get injured unknowingly, underestimating the degree of danger of hogweed.”

Is it the sun's fault?

“Sosnovsky’s hogweed contains coumarin,” says Pyotr Obraztsov, candidate of chemical sciences. – In itself, this substance is not very poisonous. However, it enhances the effect of solar ultraviolet radiation on the skin. The result is severe sunburn. In addition, when exposed to light, coumarin is partially converted to dicoumarin, which is very toxic. That is, the hogweed itself is somewhat similar to a double weapon, in which each of the components is not very harmful, but when combined together, they become very dangerous. Therefore, the severity of the burn depends not only on the area of ​​skin contamination with hogweed juice, but also on the intensity of sunlight and the time of its action.”

Protect yourself!

Skin contact with the plant itself is absolutely painless, but it should be avoided even in the absence of sunlight.

1. A reaction to light can develop 15 minutes after contact with hogweed, but it is strongest between 30 minutes and 2 hours after exposure to the juice. Poisonous neighbor. How to get rid of hogweed
2. Skin moisture (sweat or dew) and high air temperature increase the intensity of the burn.
3. Some substances contained in hogweed juice are carcinogenic (promote the development of cancer) and teratogenic (cause congenital deformities of the fetus).
4. If juice gets on your skin, wash it off as quickly as possible with soap and water and avoid sunlight for at least 48 hours.
5. The most effective treatment is with ointments and gels with corticosteroids (adrenal hormones).
6. If juice gets into your eyes, rinse them with water and be sure to wear dark glasses.
7. Skin after a burn can remain very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation for several years, and these areas should be protected from tanning.
8. You can mow and cut down hogweed only in a “spacesuit” - protective waterproof clothing that covers the entire body. The face and eyes should also be covered from possible drops of juice. When using mechanical and electronic mowers, the spray can fly far. Gloves and clothing must be removed carefully so that the juice does not get on the skin.

Hogweed is not the only provocateur of sunburn. Other plants, such as St. John's wort, can also cause increased sensitivity to light. Therefore, you can drink tea or infusion with it only in the evening. For the same reason, you should not have buckwheat or millet porridge for breakfast when you are going out in the sun.

Hogweed is a plant from the Umbelliferae family. Not all plant varieties are poisonous. Siberian and common hogweed are not dangerous to humans. The threat is posed by Sosnovsky's hogweed. Contact of its juice on the skin leads to the formation of burns of varying degrees - how to treat a burn from hogweed depends on the degree of damage. Externally, this variety can be distinguished by the hairs with purple dots that cover the stem.

All parts of the plant are dangerous: the juice gets on the skin upon contact with the stem, fruits, and leaves. A burn can occur even after contact with the plant through clothing. To understand how to treat hogweed burns, you need to understand how they occur. The juice itself does not have an irritating effect, but exposure to sunlight on the skin in the area where the juice was located leads to the development of a first or second degree burn.

According to ICD-10 Hogweed burns are indicated by a code T20-T32 (Thermal and chemical burns) and L23.7 (Allergic contact dermatitis caused by plants other than food).

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Pathogenesis

Symptoms do not develop immediately, but after several hours or days.

The reaction develops in several stages:

the formation of a bubble filled with light liquid;

detachment of the skin.

Severe detachments occur in cases of significant deterioration in a person’s condition, when the body lacks compensatory capabilities. As a result, cell death occurs, and decay products are absorbed into the blood, leading to intoxication.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of the inflammatory process are redness of the skin. After a few days, many small bubbles appear in this place, they rapidly increase in size and merge with each other, forming a large blister. The blisters rise 0.5-1 cm above the skin. They are tense, and serous fluid accumulates inside. If the skin is intact, there is no pain.

When a blister is damaged, an open wound results and severe pain begins, regardless of whether you touch the wound or not. It is advisable to keep the bubble for as long as possible. After 4-5 days, the tension will subside, the upper part of the blister will stick to the bottom. A crust forms at this point. The period is also accompanied by severe pain.

Hypo- or hyperpigmentation appears on the skin area. In some cases scars remain after a burn.

The pain persists for several weeks. By the end of the 3rd week itching begins.

Against the background of the described clinical picture, general signs of intoxication are noted. Severe swelling can lead to joint stiffness. The entry of a toxic substance into the body is accompanied by signs of general intoxication: fever, fever, vomiting. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, reactions may develop immediately or after several hours.

If more than 80% of the body is damaged, there is a high probability of death.

Types of burns

Several types of burns can develop:

When contact is no more than a minute and the duration of sun exposure does not exceed 2 minutes, a 1st degree burn develops. Externally, the lesion is manifested by hyperemia and the appearance of blisters. Such burns begin to disappear after 3-4 days.

With prolonged contact, in addition to external manifestations, dizziness, chills, and fever occur. Blisters appear on the skin, which, when a bacterial infection occurs, fill with green contents. These are 2nd degree burns. Improvements will become noticeable after 10-15 days, but pigmentation will persist for several more weeks.

If third-degree burns occur, self-medication can lead to complications: the contents of the blisters fester, necrosis develops, so the victim must be hospitalized. The minimum duration of treatment is a month. Burn marks persist for several months or more.

To get help, you need to go to the burn or surgical department of the nearest hospital. You should not refuse hospitalization if your doctor suggests it - this will help avoid complications.

You can see what a plant burn looks like in the photo.

First aid for hogweed burns

First aid involves several steps.

First, you need to thoroughly wash the area of ​​skin on which the juice has come into contact, using laundry soap. If a large area of ​​skin has been affected, take a shower, rinse the substance off the body, and thickly lather the skin with soap 3 times in a row.

Lotions in furatsilin. Solution for lotions: dilute 4-6 tablets with a liter of water. Natural fabric is soaked in the solution and applied for 15 minutes.

Any ointment with zinc - they form a protective shell on the damaged area (Tsindol). Instead of ointment, baby powder can be used, but the composition must contain zinc.

To heal wounds and relieve inflammation - lavender oil.

Any antiallergic drug.

The affected area should be covered with thick fabric folded in several layers to completely eliminate exposure to ultraviolet radiation. A burn from hogweed occurs only when the juice and sunlight come into contact.

To relieve inflammation, you will need lotions with black tea and oak bark, which are changed every few hours. If furatsilin is not available, it can be replaced with baking soda. It is applied to the burn site in a thick layer.

Extensive, severe burns may require hospital treatment.

General points in treatment

Anti-inflammatory and wound-healing compresses are used to treat burns. Scheme of what to do in case of burns:

rinsing the affected area under running water for at least 10 minutes;

compresses with chamomile for 1.5-2 weeks.

Please note that burns from hogweed are classified as chemical burns, so products like panthenol spray will not be effective.

If bubbles form, the skin must be washed so that water does not get on them.

Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used.

NSAIDs used for pain relief include: Ibuprofen, Ketorolac (tablets or injection). Analgesics include Paracetamol, Citramon, Analgin.

Steroids are used when erosions and ulcers develop. This category includes the following ointments: Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone.

Therapy is aimed at eliminating symptoms, speeding healing of the resulting damage and preventing the development of complications.

Application of topical products leads to early opening of blisters. This negatively affects the natural healing process of the skin. It is prohibited to open blisters on your own, as this can lead to infection and scar formation.

In case of severe itching that accompanies the burn, and when it is necessary to reduce the manifestations of inflammation, antihistamines are prescribed. Suprastin, Ketotifen, Tavegil can be used.

It is forbidden to apply clay to the affected area, make applications with milk, or lubricate the damage with fat. When oil is applied to a burn, a film appears on its surface, which prevents the heat from escaping - thereby penetrating into deeper layers, aggravating the situation.

Specific treatment regimen

If the juice gets on the skin, it is not recommended to stay in the sun for the next few days.

Treatment involves taking the following medications:

5 tablets of activated carbon half an hour before meals;

“Fukortsin” ointment externally;

1 capsule of doxycyline 2 times a day - morning and evening;

before bedtime – 1 tablet of kestin;

an immunosuppressant (Chloroquine) is taken twice a day;

Triderm ointment externally.

For 2-4 degree burns, only adequate therapy will help prevent the damage from spreading further to the skin and internal organs, and avoid death.

The doctor, having examined the lesions, will decide on the need to remove the contents in the blisters and select anti-burn medications and painkillers.

If a child has a burn, Ibuprofen or Paracetamol can be used for pain relief.

You cannot try to treat hogweed burns on small children on your own. A child's skin is more sensitive to sun exposure; even short contact with a plant can lead to very serious injuries.

What to apply for a burn with hogweed

Contact with hogweed causes severe pain. A rash appears on the affected area and blisters form.

Mephenat ointment will help eliminate the consequences and alleviate the patient’s condition. The product is characterized by anti-inflammatory and regenerating effects.

The following remedies have a similar effect:

The pharmacological properties of the listed external agents are not limited to anti-inflammatory effects. They also have antibacterial properties. Olazol can be used to treat burns in adults and children over 2 years of age. Its effectiveness has been proven in the treatment of eczema, trophic ulcers, and dermatoses.

Actovegin ointment has high wound healing properties. The main active substance is calf blood extract. It is effective for lesions of the mucous membranes, skin, and muscles. After exposure to hogweed, the ointment allows for rapid regeneration of damaged epithelium.

For minor lesions in which the superficial layers of the skin have been damaged, it is advisable to use plant-based ointments for treatment. This could be Panthenol, Sudocrem, Algofin. The products provide several effects at once due to their composition. They speed up wound healing, relieve pain and fight bacteria.

When a purulent process attaches to a lesion, it is necessary to include Miramistin and Streptonitol in the treatment regimen.

For small lesions that are not accompanied by discharge, titriol and levosin are used. As a rule, lesions from hogweed do not lead to deep necrotic changes in tissues. Redness located on the surface of the skin, rashes and blisters can be removed using preparations that contain silver. Such drugs include Dermazin, Argosulfan. They also have an antibacterial effect.

Severe lesions are usually caused by individual high reactivity of processes in the skin, as well as hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation - which is typical for children.

Ceracol is used for skin regeneration. The product is produced in powder. It has no side effects.

With small affected areas and adequate treatment, burns disappear within 2-4 weeks.

Other means

In case of lesions received through contact with hogweed, they may also use the following medicines:

Bepanten. Its action is aimed at speedy restoration of the skin.

Sage tincture. It is characterized by a high antiseptic and antimicrobial effect.

Karipain. The drug is intended to stimulate the process of removal of scabs formed after blisters.

Methyluracil ointment. Characterized by antimicrobial properties. Its use is relevant for dermatitis and eczema.

Acerbine - has an antimicrobial effect and also accelerates wound healing processes.

Korneregel. Used to treat corneal burns caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Pantestin. A drug that has a restorative and antimicrobial effect.

Iodinol. Used for thermal and chemical burns of 1st and 2nd degree.

Chymopsin. Available in powder form. Its main active ingredient is a substance created from the pancreas of livestock. The drug has shown effectiveness in the treatment of ulcers, wounds with purulent contents, and bedsores. A cloth soaked in solution is applied to the affected area.

Effective medicines that can be used for burns include sodium usninate, as well as usnic acid - natural antiseptic preparations consisting of lichens. They can be used as lotions and applied to the affected area of ​​the skin.

Metronidazole. The drug is available in several forms: gel and cream. The advantage of using the drug is that its main component does not bind to plasma protein. The drug is excreted in the urine; absorption by other organs does not occur.

Thymogen. Used when surface skin defects occur. The drug effectively eliminates inflammatory processes of the skin and restores the skin after burn exposure.

After treatment, a dressing material (Combixin, Diosept) should be applied.

Self-treatment of burns is prohibited in the following cases:

localization on the head, face, feet, mucous membranes;

if burns occupy more than 10% of the body;

severe damage (with the appearance of ulcers, large blisters);

severe allergic reaction.

You should contact a specialist if you experience symptoms of a secondary infection. This may be indicated by: turbidity of the contents of the blisters, discharge of pus, the formation of golden-colored crusts around the perimeter of the wound, increased pain, swelling of the affected area and local hyperthermia (increased temperature). If left untreated, the infection will spread through the bloodstream throughout the body.

Folk recipes

Pour a tablespoon of crushed burnet root into a glass of boiling water and keep in a steam bath for 20 minutes. The resulting product is used for rinsing and application.

Similarly, an infusion of oak bark is used, for the preparation of which 1 teaspoon of bark is poured with a mug of boiling water.

Lotions with strong tea leaves are effective.

Arnica and calendula ointments can be used for medicinal purposes. They themselves are intended for application to cracks and bruises. However, they are also characterized by their action to eliminate pustular formations. Use in combination with mulberry-based applications can increase the medicinal effect of the products.

Traditional methods include compresses with white cabbage leaves. Pumpkin and potatoes also have regenerating properties. The vegetable pulp is applied to the affected area.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids - this will help eliminate the symptoms characteristic of intoxication and quickly remove the toxic substance. Also, with extensive burns accompanied by weeping, dehydration may develop.

Consequences of hogweed burns

The most common consequence of contact with hogweed is pigment spots and ulcers, which cannot be removed for several months. Such marks on the body can remain for life.

The difficulty of treating burns from hogweed depends on the size and depth of the lesion. In any case, it would be a good idea to show the affected area to a doctor. For several more days after contact with the plant, you should not open the skin. We must remember that it is not only direct sunlight that is dangerous. If you suspect an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In the period from April to September in central Russia, the number of victims with burns from hogweed increases.

When exposed skin comes into contact with hogweed, there is a risk of burns. The danger is the composition of the plant juice, which contains a substance - furanocoumarin. Even in case of light contact with parts of the plant (leaves, stems, inflorescences, fruits) it leaves traces of poisonous juice on the skin. Under its influence, the skin becomes sensitive to ultraviolet rays, which can lead to photochemical burns up to the first degree, the appearance of blisters, ulcers, and scarring at the points of contact. If the body is damaged more than 80%, it can lead to death.

Hogweed inflorescences are also dangerous. During the flowering period, almost all summer, the plant releases strong-smelling essential oils. Vapors that enter through the respiratory tract cause allergies and toxic poisoning.

Why is contact with hogweed not always dangerous? It is often not always possible to detect that you have touched hogweed. After the juice gets on the skin, there is no burning sensation, it does not look like a mosquito bite, there is no feeling that you have been stung or other manifestations. If, after you touched the plant and then went home in the shade, thoroughly washed the area where the juice got in, and did not go out into the sun or worked in clothes that tightly covered the skin, everything can pass without consequences for you, since the main danger is a combination of qualities juice and ultraviolet light.

First aid for hogweed burns

What to do if you get burned? Algorithm of actions after touching hogweed:

1. it is necessary to cover the exposed area of ​​skin with a thick cloth;
2. move along the shadow side;
3. thoroughly wash the affected area of ​​skin with soap and a rich foaming agent;
4. wash the area with degreasers (a weak solution of potassium permanganate, alcohol or furatsilin lotions);
5. apply any anti-burn remedies (panthenol, bepanthen, levomikol);
6. if allergic reactions occur, take antihistamines;
7. Do not expose your skin to sunlight for at least two days.
8. In case of large burns, blisters, contact with mucous membranes or eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Symptoms and photos of how it proceeds

Since hogweed juice contains oils, the burn from it looks like a burn from oil. The first symptoms do not appear immediately. After being in the sun for 1–2 hours, the skin first begins to turn red and a burning sensation is felt. The person may feel itching. Common symptoms: dizziness, fever, headaches. The development of respiratory allergies occurs with a runny nose, swelling, and bronchial attacks.

If the burn was severe, after 8–12 hours blisters containing clear liquid may form at the points of contact. As a rule, if the blisters are small, after a few days they may go away on their own and the healing process begins. If the size of the lesion was large enough, a doctor should open such blisters. So, with insufficient sterility and incorrect actions, a wound can form, which turns into a scar.

To a greater extent, the consequences of traces of hogweed are influenced by how much time has passed since the moment of contact, how long a person touched the grass, and individual sensitivity. People with fair skin are at risk. With proper treatment of the wound, there will be no traces or consequences of the burn left on the skin. Traces can be left by advanced cases and high-degree burns, self-opened blisters, and improper care.

The main stages of exposure to poisonous juice:

1. itching, burning, redness - may become more pronounced over time;
2. blisters, rash - appear the next day and grow in volume;
3. ulcers;
4. scar, scar, age spots.

General information on the treatment of hogweed lesions

As mentioned earlier, first of all, if you notice burns, itching, burning, feeling unwell, and especially the presence of swollen watery blisters, contact the nearest medical center, pharmacy and do not self-medicate. The pharmacy will tell you how to treat burns and which doctor you should see.

Under no circumstances use oil-based creams, ointments, or oils to treat or relieve symptoms. They create a “greenhouse” effect; the oil film prevents the heat from burns from escaping and leads to deeper damage to the layers of the skin. It is strictly prohibited to apply lotions with urine to a burn. You can cause irreparable harm to your skin, cause an infection, and the recovery process and treatment will drag on for a long time.

You should carefully treat areas on the skin where blisters appear. If you touch or accidentally pierce a bubble, do not remove the skin after the liquid comes out. Treat with miramistin or other disinfectant and leave to heal. A crust will form, which can be removed after some time painlessly.

Depending on the degree of grass burn, the following treatment algorithm can be distinguished:

1. At first degree burns Small blisters appear in places of redness, which must be treated with antibacterial ointments, anti-burn agents, and degreasing creams. Olazol spray helps a lot, the foam of which relieves pain. Treat the skin as carefully as possible, trying not to damage the integrity of the swollen blisters. Already on the 3-4th day there will be noticeable improvements, and the consequences will begin to fade away.
2. If you have second degree burn with large affected areas of skin and deep burns, with proper care and medical supervision, the wounds will begin to heal within 10–15 days. It will take about three more weeks until the pigmentation is completely eliminated.
3. At severe third degree burns necessary urgent hospitalization. Unfortunately, in this case, long-term treatment is required (about several months), and the consequences of the poisonous juice in some people remain on the body for the rest of their lives.

Many people ask: Is it possible to wet a hogweed burn?? As with any other burn, it all depends on the degree of damage and individual characteristics. If you only have redness and itching, there is nothing to worry about. But if there are blisters or a rash, it is necessary to avoid skin contact with water in these areas and wash with extreme caution.

Pharmacy products

The Pharmacy can offer you a wide selection of anti-burn products. They are available in the form of ointments, sprays, and creams. Additionally, you will need antiseptic agents. As a rule, it rarely comes to antibiotics and tablets, and you should take them only as prescribed by your doctor.

In spray form – from 300-350 rubles

It is better to coordinate any actions and use of ointments, aerosols with your doctor. In this case, the treatment will be effective and will not take too long. If you feel unwell: dizziness, fever, your doctor may prescribe the use of tablets.

Treatment of burns from hogweed at home

With mild forms of injury, many prefer to cope with burns on their own. How and what to treat at home, you can find out below.

One of the effective folk remedies are lotions with infusions of various herbs. Each herb has a set of beneficial properties and effectively helps treat redness and mild burns.

1. Strongly brewed black tea (without additives or fragrances) will help relieve pain and redness. The brew should be cooled to 10–15C, moistened with a sterile bandage and applied to the affected skin. Try to keep the bandage moisturized if you notice it starting to dry out.
2. An infusion of coltsfoot herb stimulates blood flow, which promotes skin regeneration. Lotions from her infusions help rapid and scarless healing.
3. Tincture of oak bark perfectly relieves burning and itching sensations. In addition to anti-inflammatory properties, it has an antiseptic effect.
4. The most familiar and easily accessible way is to brew chamomile flowers at home. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory are some of the few beneficial properties. Apply chamomile lotions 3-4 times a day for 1-2 weeks.
5. Make a decoction of burnet: 1 tbsp per glass of water and boil for 20 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it can be used, again in the form of lotions.

Lots of advice: “anoint with oil (lavender, sea buckthorn, etc.”) REMEMBER! The main enemy of all burns is oils. No matter what beneficial properties oils have, in a situation with burns they only worsen the condition. Only after the heat in the burn areas subsides and the skin begins the recovery process can oils be used for recovery.

If hogweed gets into your eye

The most unpleasant and dangerous situation is when the juice gets into your eyes. As a result of a severe burn to the cornea, a person can go blind. Therefore, in case of contact with the mucous membrane, immediately rinse your eyes with cold water, wear sunglasses if possible, and do not expose to ultraviolet radiation for 1–2 days. Seek medical attention immediately.

Hogweed burn in children

The most vulnerable segment of the population from hogweed is children. Huge giants with fancy flower caps, large thickets, gentle plant stems so convenient and suitable for making shooting pipes or a spyglass out of them, all this lures children into a poisonous lair.

A child’s skin is more sensitive to both ultraviolet rays and plant sap. Therefore, the degree of burn is often higher than that of an adult. Children especially burn the mucous surface of the mouth, face, and eyes.

Tell your children what hogweed is, clearly show the plant, explain why playing even close to their thickets is dangerous. If children are burned, provide first aid as in the case of an adult and go to the hospital.

Hogweed and animals

Sosnowski's hogweed is the most dangerous poisonous plant for pets, dogs and cats. Contact with any parts of the plant causes severe skin burns, swelling and a severe allergic reaction.

If the burns are not severe, it is necessary to wash the area as quickly as possible with soapy solutions and rinse the area with miramistine or chlorhexidine. Do not expose the injured animal to the sun or wear protective clothing. Give antiallergic drugs, as an option - suprastin, zodak. You can give the animal Enterosgel and inject Gamavit for several days; these drugs will help remove toxins and poisons from the body.

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