How Long Do Nettle Stings Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 24 hours

Stinging nettle is a plant that can be found almost anywhere on the planet. The plant is a perennial herb, which means it possesses medicinal characteristics and grows year after year to the same location. The plant has brittle, hollow hair-like filaments covering its leaves and stems.

When your skin brushes up against the stinging hairs, they resemble a hypodermic needle. Chemicals run through the hollow tubes, causing a stinging sensation and a rash on the skin. Although the plant’s sting and rash are terrible, they are treatable.

How Long Do Nettle Stings Last?

Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, the stinging sensation might linger anywhere from a few hours to many days.

If people come into contact with stinging nettles, they can develop a rash and other symptoms. Because stinging nettles have fine hairs and compounds that irritate human skin, this is the case. Formic acid is one of these compounds, and it generates a severe rash.

Stinging nettle rash appears as raised lumps or hives that can be up to a centimeter in diameter and are frequently light in color. The skin around the hives may be red, inflamed, or itchy, with discomfort in the area of the sting.

There are a variety of home remedies that can help ease the symptoms of stinging nettle rash. It’s crucial to avoid touching the rash for the first 10 minutes after being stung. This is because allowing the chemicals to dry on the skin makes them easier to remove.

Any rubbing or contact of the area could push the chemicals deeper into the skin, intensifying the reaction and prolonging its duration. Wash away the chemicals from the skin’s surface with soap and water after 10 minutes. This is enough to significantly reduce or eliminate any pain, itching, or swelling. If you don’t have access to soap and water, a clean cloth can be used to clean the area until it is well cleansed.

Remove any leftover fibers from the skin with strong tape after cleansing. If the tape isn’t working, try a hair-removal product with wax strips.

Other medications that contain hydrocortisone, such as topical creams, lotions, or ointments, can be calming and may help to ease the redness and itching. Antihistamines (allergy medicines) are another option for alleviating itching because they work by counteracting the body’s reaction. You can take anti-inflammatory pain relievers if the rash is painful.

Why Do Nettle Stings Lasts For So Long?

The length of nettle stings is determined by how much of the skin is in touch with the stinging nettles. Some people may have an allergic reaction to stinging nettles that last longer than a day. In these circumstances, medical help should be sought right away because the situation could be life-threatening.

Stiffness in the chest or neck, breathing problems, coughing, swelling in the mouth, including the tongue or lips, a rash in non-nettle-contact regions (it can be across the body), stomach pains, vomiting, and diarrhea are all indications of a severe allergic reaction to stinging nettles. In the event of any of these symptoms, or a suspected severe allergic reaction, people should seek immediate treatment or phone 911.

Avoiding stinging nettle contact with the skin is the best approach to avoid stinging nettle rash. Preventing stinging nettle rash can be as simple as recognizing the plant and training others on how to do so. Wearing thick, full-length clothing and thick gardening gloves can help people from being stung while clearing stinging nettles from their backyard or the surrounding region.

Those who work outside and are likely to come into touch with stinging nettles may consider wearing protective clothing to prevent the plant from brushing up against bare skin and producing a rash.

Conclusion

When the skin comes into contact with stinging nettles, it develops stinging nettle rash. Stinging nettles release chemicals such as histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, leukotrienes, and Borodin, which cause the stinging sensation and rashes.

Rashes from stinging nettle can be uncomfortable and itchy, but they normally go away after a few days. Washing the affected region with soapy water and taking Generic pain medications are two home remedies that may help alleviate the symptoms.

People should consult their doctor if they experience severe, long-lasting, or worsening symptoms. Anyone who experiences a severe allergic reaction to stinging nettles should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

References

1. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2006-957993
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167577X07011391