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I was just out weeding in one of the flower beds. Getting rid of grass, ferns that don't belong, etc. by pulling the bad plants out by hand, getting down to the roots and suddenly felt something on my wrist. Within seconds, the area started to hurt - almost like a burn. There are no marks on the skin to show a bite or sting. There is now (15 minutes later) a 3 inch wide area of my wrist that is slightly swollen and the area is sore. Not painful, but I know its' there. The apparent spot of whatever I touched - or touched me - is turning slightly red.
I immediately came in and washed my hands/arms in antibacterial soap.
I am not allergic to anything other than poison ivy.
Any thoughts on what it could be or what else I should do? Should I go to the doctor or self-medicate by drinking a quick set of adult beverages?
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You possibly brushed up against a stinging nettle caterpillar. Try an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel soaked in vinegar. Hold it on the area 'til the ice melts.
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Yes, you probably encountered the stinging nettle caterpillar. Leilaniguy's advice is good, and I have also obtained some relief by making a paste of vinegar and baking soda which is applied as soon as it quits fizzing. Leave it on there until it dries and flakes off. Some people have more severe reactions than others. If I don't apply that paste, I usually have blisters within 24 hours.
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Hydrocortisone cream
Don't scratch it.
One Thing I can always be sure of is that things will never go as expected.
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Thanks. It doesn't itch. Now, the red area has added a couple of little spots that look like small blisters, so that's what probably happened.
What do they look like? Anyone have a picture to link to?
if you put stinging nettle caterpillar into a Google search and select images instead of web, you'll get results.
This could well have been a caterpillar, except you say it isn't painful now, and I think those stings hurt for awhile.
I have gotten arm/wrist "burns" before from something called razor grass. It looks like grass but it's very abrasive. It will leave a red irritated area, but won't look like a sting or bite, more like a welt, narrower than it is wide where the grass has brushed me.
There are also plants that have irritating hairs. The ferns can be real irritating.
I no longer do weeding without my gloves on. A lot of people would say wear a long sleeved shirt, but they are so hot. I am careful not to put my bare skin down in the weeds.
There are also biting ants, and they hurt a lot, and then a little bubble/blister, but normally the ant bites don't have such a wide area that they affect.
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Here is a picture and information about them. I have even noticed them on the underside of the leafs of my patio plants. They quickly chew the leafs up and the leaves will turn yellow. It is best to always wear long sleeves and gloves, while working in the yard. Another thing, I have noticed, is the white flies on guava's. We have removed all of the guava in our yard and now have less of a problem with them.
Feel better[
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http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/iP-22.pdf
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Hmmmm. No sharp grasses or cane grass in the flower bed. No evidence of any leaves chewed up. Great picture/article, btw! Nasty looking caterpillar though. No ants in the flower bed either.
Wrist is still swollen and sore near the spot. Several tiny blister-like spots in the red area. I had applied ice for a while. That seemed to help.
You can't really know there aren't ants. It can be a roaming ant. I would be amazed if there was a flower bed with no ant action. The blister part sounds like little fire ants. They are barely visible.
