Traces of hogweed. What is the danger of an allergy to hogweed, and how to treat it? On-site assistance

In the article we discuss how to treat a burn from hogweed. You will learn what hogweed is, why burns on the skin occur after it, and how to treat them. You will also learn how to provide first aid to a victim, how long it takes for inflammation to heal, and what consequences may develop after a burn.

Appearance of hogweed. Hogweed is a perennial tall herbaceous shrub of the Apiaceae family. The Latin name for hogweed, Heracleum, was given in honor of the ancient Greek demigod Hercules for the gigantic size of the plant.

The inflorescences of hogweed are large, collected in complex umbrellas. Each umbrella bears many small pink or white flowers.

Externally, hogweed inflorescences resemble dill inflorescences, only larger in size. The stem of hogweed is ribbed, rough and hollow inside. The leaves are large yellowish-green.

The genus Hogweed has about 52 plant species. Many plant species are not poisonous and do not pose a danger to humans. Previously, young shoots of the plant were used as food or grown as feed for livestock.

Some types of hogweed should be avoided, as contact with them can cause severe burns to the skin and mucous membranes. These include Sosnovsky's Hogweed, which is often found growing wild.

Initially, Sosnovsky's hogweed was grown as a silage crop, but after the negative properties for humans were identified, the plant was abandoned from cultivation. This type of hogweed was recognized as a dangerous weed and had to be mowed.

However, thanks to the plant’s ability to reproduce quickly with the help of numerous seeds, Sosnovsky’s hogweed quickly spread throughout the European part of Russia, as well as in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe.

Causes of burns from hogweed

The juice of the plant contains the substance furanocoumarin, which increases the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes to ultraviolet radiation. When exposed to sunlight, 1st or 2nd degree burns occur in the area of ​​contact with hogweed.

All parts of the plant are dangerous to humans. Furanocoumarins can even reach the skin through clothing. Hogweed is especially dangerous in sunny, hot weather, because... Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, a burn on the skin can develop very quickly, and first aid will not be provided in a timely manner.

You will learn more about the causes of burns from the following video:

Symptoms of hogweed burns

When burned by a plant, the following symptoms appear:

• redness on the skin;
• moderate or severe itching, burning;
• darkening of the affected areas;
• edema and swelling.

The first symptoms of a burn may not appear immediately. Typically, redness on the skin and itching occur 1-1.5 hours after contact with the plant. In people with sensitive, fair skin and in children, the period of development of burn symptoms is much shorter.

After about a day, bubbles filled with cloudy liquid may appear at the site of inflammation, as with a second-degree thermal burn. With extensive damage to the dermis by hogweed juice, symptoms of general malaise may develop: fever, weakness, dizziness and headache.

First aid for burns

In case of accidental contact with the plant and when the first symptoms of a burn appear, the following measures must be taken:

1. Hide in the shadows immediately.
2. Do not touch the mucous membranes with your hands - do not rub your eyes, do not touch your lips, nose and genitals.
3. Wash the affected area of ​​skin in running water using any mild soap or baking soda solution.
4. If blisters appear on the skin, use a solution of furatsilin or potassium permanganate instead of water and soap to cleanse the burn.
5. Pat your skin dry with a sterile towel or napkin.
6. Lubricate the area of ​​inflammation with any anti-burn ointment.
7. Apply a thick sterile cloth bandage to the site of inflammation to protect the skin from UV rays.
8. To avoid an allergic reaction, take antihistamines.
9. Stay in the shade for several days after contact with the plant.

To relieve pain, take painkillers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc.

In case of extensive burns of the skin (more than 10% of the body surface) and if the mucous membranes are damaged by hogweed juice, consult a doctor immediately.

How to treat a burn from hogweed

In order to dry and heal the burn, apply compresses with a decoction of oak bark to the affected area of ​​the skin. Tannins from oak bark have local anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and antimicrobial effects.

Compress for hogweed burns

Ingredients:

1. Crushed oak bark - 1 tbsp.
2. Pure water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Boil the water. Pour boiling water over the oak bark. Boil it over low heat for 10 minutes. Let the product brew for about an hour, then strain the broth through a gauze cloth and cool it to room temperature.

How to use: Soak a gauze swab in the broth and apply it to the burn site for 1 hour. Apply the compress twice a day until the burn is completely healed.

When applying compresses and dressing burns, use only sterile bandages and gauze pads.

In case of extensive burns from the plant, consult a doctor immediately. Do not use folk remedies such as compresses with urine to treat a burn, and do not lubricate the burn site with sour cream, butter or petroleum jelly.

Also, never pierce the blisters with a needle to avoid infection. If the blister bursts on its own, do not remove the loose piece of skin; it will help prevent infection.

How long does a hogweed burn last?

The healing period of a burn depends on many factors: the area of ​​the dermis affected, the duration of exposure to the sun after contact with the plant, the individual characteristics of the skin, age, etc.

On average, a burn after hogweed heals within a month. The stage of development of vesicles with serous fluid at the burn site lasts from 3 to 7 days. Painful sensations may persist for 1.5–2 weeks. After the bubbles burst, a crust appears at the burn site. The healing process of a wound under the crust lasts on average 2 weeks.

Consequences after a burn

After the burn has completely dried and healed, a dark spot remains in its place. This is explained by the fact that the upper layers of the skin produce melanin, which is necessary to protect dermal cells from destruction when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. A dark spot on the skin after a burn can remain for a long time. Also, after a burn with hogweed, scars may appear.

With untimely and illiterate treatment, sepsis may develop. If hogweed juice gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, blindness can develop. Fatal outcome is also possible with burns of more than 80% of the body surface.

For more information about plant burns, watch the following video:

Hogweed burn in a child

Children often get burns from grass during the summer season. The gigantic size of hogweed attracts the attention of children. They use it for games and for making bouquets. When going out into nature, tell your child what hogweed looks like. If the child is still too young, watch him closely and keep him away from the plant.

If a child is burned, provide first aid. Regardless of the degree of damage to the body by hogweed juice and the severity of the burn, consult a doctor immediately. Only a doctor can prescribe proper treatment for your child.

Burn prevention

To avoid burns when coming into contact with hogweed, take the following measures:

1. There are many types of hogweed that are safe for humans, however, if you do not understand them, then avoid contact with any representative of this type of plant.
2. Do not touch wild hogweed, especially in sunny weather.
3. During the flowering period, hogweed is especially dangerous, because its pollen can cause a severe allergic reaction. Don't stand near hogweed.
4. Explain to your children what hogweed looks like, and warn your family and friends about the dangers of the plant.
5. If hogweed has grown in your garden or summer cottage, then immediately remove it by the roots before the flowering period begins.
6. When uprooting hogweed, all parts of the body must be covered: wear old clothes made of thick fabric, rubberized gloves, protect your face and eyes with a mask and special glasses.

What to remember

1. Hogweed is a plant that causes burns. Avoid contact with him.
2. Hogweed juice contains furanocoumarins, which increase the sensitivity of the skin to UV radiation.
3. If a child is burned by hogweed, consult a doctor immediately.

Quite often in the summer, after relaxing in nature or even at the dacha, people turn to doctors with burns from contact with the plant - hogweed. Children also often get such burns in the summer when they pick flowers, make straws out of hogweed stems, or simply play in the grass.

Causes of burns from hogweed

In general, hogweed is a fairly harmless plant and was even considered edible; at least previously it was grown for livestock feed. But some types of hogweed are not as harmless as they seem. The juice of Sosnovsky and Mantegazzi hogweeds is rich in essential oils containing furanocoumarins - photosensitizing substances. If they come into contact with the skin, these substances can greatly increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, which can lead to sunburn, and this must be understood when choosing treatment tactics for burns from bospar. That is, the burn is caused by the boschevite itself; in fact, it is an ordinary sunburn, complicated by the presence of photosensitizers, and treatment should be carried out taking this fact into account.

The juice itself, without subsequent exposure to the sun, will not cause any reaction on the skin, so in cloudy weather, hogweed rarely causes severe burns.

Symptoms of a burn from hogweed

Direct touching of the hogweed does not cause any unpleasant sensations, but after some time, from contact with the plant, a dark spot appears at the site of contact, then redness. This time directly depends on the illumination of the burned area of ​​skin by the sun: the more intense it is, the faster the burn will appear and the more severe it will be.

This is precisely the difficulty of diagnosis. You were burned today, and the first symptoms will appear tomorrow or even later, spots will appear as if suddenly, the victim may not associate these spots with his walks on the grass.

Then, at intervals of a day or several days, blisters filled with liquid appear on the affected skin, the same as with any 2nd degree thermal burn.

With large areas of damage, body temperature rises. Next, the blisters merge over the entire area of ​​the burn into one large bubble, rising above the skin level.

After 3-5 days the blister becomes less tense.

The skin on it may burst, the contents will leak out, revealing a painful wound.

The pain persists for at least a week. The thin skin becomes a crust. The crust lasts for 2-3 weeks and then crumbles away from the edges like any “scab”, revealing the bright pink, smooth surface of the new skin. By the end of the third week, the scab is very itchy. As the skin under the scab heals, so does its soreness.

Healing is long, at least a month. This is probably due to the fact that in addition to photosensitizing properties, Sosnovsky's hogweed also has genotoxicity (causes mutations in genes). A dark spot remains at the burn site for a long time, and scars may appear. Dark spots at the site of severe burns may remain for several years. Then the skin completely restores its normal color.

If in contact with eyes, hogweed can cause blindness. If more than 80% of the surface of a person’s body is affected by hogweed, it can be fatal.

First aid for hogweed burns

If plant juice gets on the skin, it should be thoroughly washed with soap and water and completely avoid exposure to sunlight and other UV radiation for at least 3 days by any means - cover with clothing, apply a clean, dry gauze bandage.

In the next 2 weeks, you should protect the affected areas of the skin from exposure to sunlight as much as possible, this will reduce the severity of tissue damage and help prevent the appearance of blisters, with only peeling of the skin.

If contact with hogweed goes unnoticed, which often happens with children, and a stain or blisters have already appeared, carefully rinse the affected area with a solution of chlorhexidine or furatsilin, let it dry, and apply a loose, clean, dry gauze bandage. Do not open the blisters under any circumstances; this will only slow down healing and expose the painful bottom of the burn.

If the incident occurred with a child, you should urgently show the little victim to a doctor. Only a doctor will be able to assess the extent of the damage and the need for hospitalization, or prescribe outpatient treatment.

Treatment of burns from hogweed

Until the blister ruptures, you are unlikely to help yourself or your child speed up healing. At this stage, it is only possible to relieve pain with ibuprofen or paracetamol, if any, and reduce the allergic mood of the body with antihistamines (suprastin, loratadine) for swelling and itching.

To remove tissue breakdown products from the blood in case of severe hogweed burns, sorbents (activated carbon, smecta) are taken.

The burn site should continue to be protected with a dry gauze bandage, which should be changed at least 2 times a day. Make sure the bandage remains dry. A wet burn is an excellent environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microbes, and in this case, treatment will take even longer. Signs of a secondary infection are: cloudiness of the contents of the blisters, separation of cloudy 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. If a secondary infection attaches to a burn, immediately consult a dermatologist.

Bursted blisters can be treated 2 times a day with Panthenol or Olazol spray for faster healing.

Steroid ointments (hydrocortisone, prednisolone) are rationally prescribed in the presence of erosions and ulcerative defects. Advantan, Locoid-Crelo - typical representatives of the group can be prescribed in short courses of 5 days. Long-term therapy is carried out only for special indications and is associated with severe side effects.

Complications and prognosis

Wound infection is the most common complication of all burns, and it is easier to prevent than to treat. The consequence of infection can be sepsis, a fatal condition that occurs at lightning speed.

The prognosis depends on the intensity and size of the lesion. The more extensive the burn, the worse the prognosis. If the injury is small and the burn is properly cared for, within a month only a speck will remain.

Prevention of burns from hogweed

There are other varieties of hogweed that are quite harmless, but if you are not sure which variety of this plant is in front of you, it is better not to pick or touch it.

Sosnovsky's hogweed is a rather large plant, an adult plant up to 3 meters high, with a thick stem and large bright green leaves. White small flowers are collected in umbrellas, slightly reminiscent of dill umbrellas.

Hogweed Mantegazzi even grows up to 6 meters in height, but this does not mean that small young plants are not dangerous.

Since Sosnovsky's hogweed is becoming more and more widespread throughout the world, especially in fields and near vegetable gardens in Russia, the former Soviet republics, Turkey and Europe, it is advisable to warn children about its danger.

However, hogweed is far from unique in terms of pungency. Most of these plants belong to the umbelliferous (celery) and rutaceae families and contain active substances from the furocoumarins group, and some are simply poisonous and cause burns in any weather. For example, almost the same burns are caused by wild parsnips - light, yellowish, almost salad greens, flowers with an umbrella, inconspicuous and the same color as the whole plant, pinnate leaves, with large teeth along the edges of the lobes, it also contains photocoumarins. The ash tree (or burning bush) is also dangerous because it releases essential oils into the air, which means you will get burned without even touching the plant, and simply walking nearby causes a burn in any weather. Avoid buttercup, stinging clematis, fragrant rue, and finally, nettles of all kinds - all of them can cause not only burns, but also allergic rashes.

- a plant common 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 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.

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

• the affected area is washed with an antiseptic solution (Chlorhexidine);
• apply a dry gauze bandage;
• 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:

• antiseptic drugs;
• painkillers;

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:

• cloudiness of the contents of the blisters;
• cloudy pus from the wound;
• golden crusts around the perimeter of the affected area;
• 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:

• Hydrocortisone;
• Lokoid-krelo.

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:

• Panthenol;
• Olazol.

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:

• zinc ointment;

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:

• Ibuprofen;
• Paracetamol.

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

• Suprastin;
• Loratadine.

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

• Smecta;
• Activated carbon;
• 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:

• anti-inflammatory;
• drying;
• absorbent;
• 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.

Hogweed is an extremely dangerous plant that was introduced into our country with the best intentions. Unfortunately, then no one knew what effect it could have on the body. It is very dangerous and leads to unpleasant consequences. Today, this weed grows not only in forests - the plant spreads very quickly, approaching cities, villages and summer cottages.

What is the danger of hogweed?

This plant belongs to the Umbrella family; in Russia there are 3 main species - Siberian hogweed, Montegazzi, Sosnovsky's hogweed. The last two species are dangerous to humans; skin damage occurs upon contact with any part of the plant, as well as when hogweed juice gets on the skin.

It is quite easy to distinguish dangerous species from non-dangerous ones. Siberian hogweed can grow up to 1 m in height. But Siberian and Montegazzi hogweeds grow up to 3 and 6 m, respectively - it is these giant plants that pose a threat to human health.

It should also be noted that this plant poisons the soil on which it grows. It releases toxic substances into it - this is a protective function necessary to suppress the growth of other plants. That is why you need to be careful when planting cultivated plants in places where hogweed used to grow. Often, eating fruits grown on such soil can lead to severe allergic reactions.

How do hogweed burns appear?

This plant has juice that contains fumocoumarin (bergaptene coumarin) - a substance that increases the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation hundreds of times. Therefore, if judged objectively, signs of damage on the skin appear not from the sap of the plant, but from the adverse effects of sunlight.

The plant is especially dangerous during its flowering period, which occurs in July and August. It is during these months that hogweed juice contains a huge amount of fumocoumarin, which weakens the protective properties of the skin and makes it vulnerable to UV radiation.

A burn on the skin appears after direct contact with the plant, as well as when trying to pull it out or cut it down - drops of juice fall on the skin, causing itching and burning.

Extensive burn on hand

After some time, if it is sunny outside, obvious signs of a burn begin to develop - redness, the appearance of blisters and erosions. It has been noted that the severity of manifestations largely depends on the weather. The hotter and sunny the day, the worse the condition after contact with hogweed.

What to do if you couldn’t avoid a burn?

If contact with the plant has already occurred, first aid should be started immediately. The person needs to be brought into the room, the place of contact with the plant should be washed with cool water, possibly using mild hypoallergenic soap.

The main prevention of deterioration of the condition is to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin. It is recommended to stay indoors for 2 days.

The affected areas should be lubricated with anti-burn agents (Rescuer, Panthenol). They have wound healing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Under no circumstances should you open blisters yourself if they appear; it is forbidden to lubricate the affected skin with fatty creams and oils.

Treating a burn at home

There are often situations when it is not possible to go to a medical facility after a hogweed burn. In this case, you need to take treatment measures yourself at home.

After first aid has been provided, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the skin at the site of contact with the plant. It is necessary to constantly apply emollients (Bepanten, Dexpanthenol) - topical products that soften the skin and reduce inflammation.

It is also necessary to take antihistamines, because when burned by hogweed, an allergic reaction often occurs. It is better to use the latest generation of antihistamines, which need to be taken only once a day. These include:

• Ebastine;
• Cetirizine;
• Fexofenadine;
• Akrivastine;
• Loratadine;
• Terfenadine.

If the condition worsens, and there is still no opportunity to see a doctor, it is necessary to use anti-inflammatory drugs (Nimesil, Paracetamol, Pentalgin). These medications will help relieve fever, pain and inflammation.

Traditional and folk methods of treatment

If there is extensive skin damage, as well as if the general condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor. Also, medical intervention is required for burns in children, burns accompanied by an allergic reaction (swelling, bronchospasm) and damage to the mucous membranes (for example, in the oral cavity).

A specialist will examine the skin and prescribe effective treatment. The following medications are currently used:

1. Antihistamines in tablets- Erius, Alerzin, Clemastine.
2. Systemic glucocorticosteroids- Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone.
3. Local hormonal ointments— Neoderm, Hydrocortisone ointment, Triderm. Recommended during the recovery period.
4. Sorbents— Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta.
5. Antibacterial drugs- Doxycycline, Tetracycline. Necessary for the prevention of secondary bacterial infection.
6. Homeopathic remedies and essential oils- lavender oil, Tsindol. It is allowed to use these drugs after the acute symptoms of a burn have subsided, for a speedy recovery of the skin.
7. Drying ointments- Zinc ointment.

Also, in a hospital setting, observing the rules of asepsis, the bullae (blisters) are opened, then the skin areas are treated with local antiseptics and a sterile bandage is applied.

If the area of ​​skin damage is more than 8-12%, a course of treatment in a hospital is recommended.

Unfortunately, hogweed burns require long-term treatment, which can sometimes last from 3 to 6 weeks. After contact with the plant, the skin requires long-term recovery - for this, physiotherapeutic methods are used (magnetic therapy, thalassotherapy).

In addition to the main (drug) treatment, it is possible to prescribe folk remedies. Their advantage is that they are much cheaper, and they can also be used to treat bloating in childhood.

The following methods of alternative medicine are considered the most effective:

1. Lotions with strong black tea.
2. Lotions with decoction chamomile, oak bark and burnet root. To prepare this remedy, you need to take dried and crushed plants in a ratio of 1:1:2, pour boiling water over them. Simmer the resulting mixture in a water bath for 30 minutes, then strain and let cool. Lotions are made as follows. Take a small piece of natural fabric, moisten it with a decoction and apply it to the affected area of ​​the skin for 10-15 minutes. You can do such procedures every 3-4 hours.
3. Lubrication lavender, sea buckthorn, olive oil. This remedy should be used only after the obvious symptoms of the acute period have passed. You need to lubricate the skin 2-3 times a day.

These products relieve itching and burning well, and also help the skin recover. Remember that traditional methods can only be used after consultation with a doctor.

The best way to avoid it is to avoid touching or contacting the plant. However, this is not always as simple as it seems. Unfortunately, the prevalence of hogweed is growing every year, as are the consequences of this - massive burns, especially among children. People who are engaged in agriculture, as well as children who play in nature, most often come into contact with this plant.

To avoid unpleasant symptoms, you must adhere to basic preventive measures:

1. If you notice a plant in your summer cottage, it is better to get rid of it in the spring, before the flowering period.
2. If you need to weed the garden, it is better to use tools rather than do it by hand.
3. It is better to carry out work in the country in the morning or evening, when the sun is not so active, as well as in cloudy weather.
4. It is necessary to use closed clothing made from natural fabrics - this precaution will protect not only from burns by hogweed, but also from contact with other poisonous plants.
5. After agricultural work is completed, it is necessary to remove clothes and wash them.
6. Children need to be shown what hogweed looks like, explain why they should not touch it or play near it.

Usually these precautions should be enough to avoid burns from hogweed.

In conclusion, we can say that it is much easier to prevent it than to deal with its consequences later. But if it was not possible to avoid a burn, you should immediately provide first aid to the person and consult a doctor.