Skin blisters after contact with grass?

I was out mowing the lawn and I’m clearly allergic to some kind of weed, though I have no clue which one. Now my arms are covered in these nasty blisters. Does anyone know how to fix this, or am I stuck making an appointment with a doctor?

Jesse Reed3 said:I was out mowing the lawn and I’m clearly allergic to some kind of grass, though I haven't a clue which one. Anyway, my arms are covered in these nasty blisters. Does anyone know how to fix this, or am I really going to have to go see a doctor?

Man, that sounds absolutely miserable... My mom went through the exact same thing maybe three years ago. She thinks it happened after she was picking cherries, but honestly, who knows.
Those blisters on your palms—ugh, they look terrible. For her, it just wouldn't clear up; she kept applying various ointments, but I couldn't tell you what they were. I do know it finally started clearing up once we took a trip to the Florida coast; apparently, soaking them in the salt water did the trick, though I can't say for sure if it was the salt or something else...
Your best bet is to head to a local CVS or Walgreens and let the pharmacist give you some advice. They might have something over-the-counter that works.

Thomas Wells5 said:That sounds awful. My mom dealt with something similar about three years ago. She thought it flared up after picking cherries, but who knows?
Those blisters on the palms look nasty—really gross to see. It wouldn't go away for her. She tried rubbing all sorts of stuff on it, but I have no clue what she used. I do know it finally cleared up after we went to the beach; apparently, soaking them in the ocean water helped. Maybe it was the salt? Who knows...
Just head to a CVS or Walgreens and ask the pharmacist for advice. They might have something that actually works.

Look, I’m already using this super expensive medicated ointment for inflammation. It works fine for the tiny little bumps, but these larger ones? They’re just getting worse. To make matters worse, the ones that popped turned into actual sores, and now more blisters are forming right around the edges.

Just take an antihistamine. You can pick them up over the counter at any CVS without even needing a prescription.

Jesse Reed3 said:I was mowing the lawn and I’m clearly allergic to some kind of grass, though I'm not sure which one. My arms are covered in blisters. Does anyone know how to treat this, or am I looking at a mandatory doctor visit?

Hello,

The reaction you're describing isn't necessarily an allergy.

There is a condition known as bullous phytophotodermatitis—essentially a group of phototoxic dermatoses.

It isn't an allergic response per se. Rather, it's an inflammatory reaction triggered when skin (often damp from sweat or dew) comes into contact with certain plant compounds and is subsequently exposed to UV rays.

Mowing the lawn during the summer months is a classic scenario for this, particularly on the forearms.

Symptoms typically involve intense itching accompanied by redness and small or large blisters. The itching often peaks at night, frequently disrupting sleep. These skin changes manifest shortly after contact with the vegetation and can spread over the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Usually, they begin to subside within about a week.

If you develop large blisters or a more severe presentation, there is also the risk of secondary infection, especially if the blisters rupture. In those cases, a trip to the doctor is necessary. Severe instances are often treated with corticosteroid lotions, while infections require antibiotic creams.

In the interim, alongside the previously mentioned antihistamines to manage the itch, cold compresses may provide relief.

Regardless of whether this is an allergy or a phototoxic irritation, if things take a turn for the worse, seek medical attention.

Best regards. 🙂

The same thing happened to me that the OP mentioned.
I was on corticosteroids—oral meds first, then eventually a topical cream.
It’s been three weeks now, but the pigmentation just hasn't budged.

Does anyone know if there's a specific cream that actually works to clear up these spots or discoloration faster?