Gardening can be a fulfilling hobby, but there are many ways your skin can get irritated while you’re working. Plants could cause skin irritation, the sun could cause burns, and bugs can spread harmful bacteria or cause itchiness. When you’re gardening, wearing protective clothing and gloves, putting on sunscreen, and applying bug repellent can all help you stay safe while you’re outside!
[Edit]Steps
[Edit]Preventing Skin Irritation and Damage
- Wear thick gardening gloves while handling plants. Invest in a pair of leather gardening gloves to prevent any thorns or sharp objects from cutting through them and stabbing your hands. Make sure the gloves fit your fingertips exactly and that they aren’t too tight when you clench your fist. Avoid handling any of your plants without gardening gloves since the plants could have sap or chemicals that may irritate your skin.[1]
- You can give your skin a little extra protection by applying a layer of petroleum jelly to your hands and putting on some latex or nitrile gloves. Then, put on your gardening gloves on top of those.
- Keep a few pairs of gardening gloves in your home so you have spares in case you accidentally rip or tear one.
- There are many types of gardening gloves that each have specialized purposes. For example, you may get pruning gloves to cover more skin and work with delicate plants.
- Put on sturdy shoes while you’re working outside. Look for shoes that are comfortable to wear, waterproof, and flexible so you can easily get to your plants. For the maximum amount of protection, wear rubber boots so water can’t get inside and to keep your feet safe from any sharp tools you’re using. If you want something more casual, wear rubber slip-on shoes for walking around your garden doing simple tasks, like pruning.[2]
- Keep your gardening shoes clean after you’re done working for the day so they don’t get caked with dirt or mud.
- Avoid wearing slip-on shoes while watering or working with pesticides and fertilizers so you don’t get wet or expose your skin to the chemicals.
- Learn to identify poison ivy, oak, and sumac to prevent rashes and irritation. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac have chemicals on their leaves and sap that can cause itching or rashes when they come into contact with your skin. Take some time to familiarize yourself with what each plant looks like so you can identify them if they’re in your area. When you find any, be careful not to touch them or only handle them if you’re wearing gloves.[3]
- Poison ivy has 3 leaves at the end of each of its reddish stems, and the vines may have a hairy appearance.[4]
- Poison oak can grow as a shrub or a vine and has 3 dark green leaves at the end of each of its red stems. The leaves and stems have “hairs” on both sides, and they produce tan-colored berries.[5]
- Poison sumac is a tree that has leaves that look like a feather, and the stems have a reddish color. The tree can grow up to tall.
- Clean any wounds immediately to prevent infection. If you ever puncture your gloves or break your skin by scratching it on a plant, take off your gloves and stop gardening immediately. Wash off the wound with warm, soapy water and apply an antibacterial cream or spray so it doesn’t get infected. Wrap the wound in a bandage before continuing gardening so you don’t expose it to any harmful materials.[6]
- You can also keep antibacterial creams or sprays out with you while you’re gardening to treat the wound right away. Wash the wound as soon as you’re able to ensure it doesn’t get infected.
- If you punctured through a pair of gloves, then use a different pair when you continue gardening so you don’t reintroduce any bacteria.
- Shower and change your clothes when you’re finished gardening. Once you finish gardening for the day, take a shower once to rinse off any chemicals or plant bacteria that you may have gotten on your skin while you were working. After that, put on a fresh change of clothes so you don’t accidentally spread or expose yourself to irritants again.[7]
- Do an oatmeal soak to help alleviate any itching or rashes. Oatmeal can soothe your skin to help relieve pain from rashes or itching. Fill a large mixing bowl with ¼ cup (25 g) of dry rolled oats and pour in of warm water. Put your hands or the affected area in the bowl and let them soak for 10-15 minutes to help reduce any itchiness and pain. When you’re finished, rinse your hands and moisturize them with lotion so your hands don’t dry out any more.[8]
- If you want to do a full body soak, then add ½ cup (50 g) of oats to a full bathtub instead.
[Edit]Protecting Yourself from the Sun
- Wear water-resistant sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30. A little bit of sunlight is healthy for you, but too much can increase your risk of skin cancer. Look for a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, and make sure that it’s waterproof so it doesn’t come off as easily when you sweat. Rub the sunscreen onto any skin that’s still exposed and work it in until it’s clear. The sunscreen will help block UV rays that cause sunburn so you can work outdoors for an extended period of time.[9]
- Don’t forget areas that are commonly missed, such as your face, ears, and the back of your neck.
- Cover as much skin as you can with long-sleeved shirts and pants. Wear light colors and thin fabrics, such as cotton, rayon, or linen, while you’re gardening so you don’t overheat while you’re working out in the sun. If it’s still too warm to wear long sleeves or pants, then it’s okay to wear T-shirts and shorts as long as you’re careful around plants and put on sunscreen.[10]
- Long sleeves and pants also help protect you from skin irritants in plants as well as insects.
- Put on a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for additional sun protection. While sunscreen can protect your face from sunburn, try putting on a hat that has a wide brim so your face is out of direct sunlight. Large pairs of sunglasses can also help block out harmful rays and make it easier to see while you’re outside.[11]
- You can buy gardening hats online or from any outdoors store.
- Keep yourself well-hydrated. While you’re in the garden, always have a bottle of water on hand and take regular sips as you work. This will help you stay cool and hydrated if it’s hot out, and will also help keep your skin well-hydrated as you lose water from exertion and sweating.[12]
- Most doctors recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you’re working up a sweat, you may need more. A good rule of thumb is to drink whenever you start to feel thirsty.
[Edit]Keeping Bugs Away
- Garden during the middle of the day to help reduce bug bites. Harmful insects that bite, such as mosquitoes or ticks, are more active from dusk until dawn, so try to garden throughout the day so you aren’t outside during peak insect times. While there still may be insects, like bees or spiders, during the day, they’re less likely to bite or sting you unless they’re provoked.[13]
- There still may be ticks or mosquitoes around during the day, but they’re less likely to be active.
- Spray insect repellent with DEET to protect from stings or bug bites. DEET is a bug repellent that also deters ticks, so spray it on exposed skin or your clothing to keep the bugs away. Read the repellent’s label carefully since it may tell you when to reapply or provide any special instructions you need to follow. To apply the bug repellent in hard to reach areas, like your face or the back of your neck, spray it into your hands and rub it into your skin.[14]
- If you don’t want to spray insect repellent on yourself, you can also buy repellent capsules that you keep near you to keep bugs away.
- Spray the repellent around your shoes and socks since ticks are usually found in grasses low to the ground.
- Flick bugs away rather than killing them if they land on you. If you slap or kill bugs that land on you, they’re more likely to bite you or sting. If you notice a bug on your skin, then use your thumb and forefinger to gently flick it away. Try to flick it from the side so you don’t accidentally get bitten or stung.[15]
- Check yourself for ticks when you’re finished gardening. Stand in a well-lit room and check over your body for small bugs the size of a poppy seed or larger. Look in warm, dark areas, such as between your toes, the backs of your knees, your armpits, and your groin. If you find a tick attached to you, carefully pick it off with a pair of tweezers as close to the skin as you can and pull it straight outward.[16]
- Wear light colors while you’re gardening since it will be easier to see if you have any ticks on you.
- Have a partner help you check for ticks if you have trouble searching on your back or neck.
[Edit]Tips
- Apply lotion before and after you garden to keep your hands smooth.[17]
[Edit]Warnings
- Remove any ticks as soon as you find them since they could spread harmful diseases and bacteria.
- Chemicals in pesticides or fertilizers can cause eye irritation when you come into contact with them, so wear safety glasses that cover your eyes completely. Make sure the glasses are snug against your face so chemicals, pollen, or other flying debris doesn’t cause any eye damage.[18]
[Edit]Things You’ll Need
[Edit]Preventing Skin Irritation and Damage
- Gardening gloves
- Safety glasses
- Sturdy shoes
- Antibacterial cream
- Bandages
- Dried oats
- Mixing bowl
[Edit]Protecting Yourself from the Sun
- Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Pants
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunglasses
[Edit]Keeping Bugs Away
- Insect repellent with DEET
[Edit]References
- ↑ https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/gardening-health-news-251/how-to-avoid-skin-problems-when-you-garden-744962.html
- ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/garden-shoes.html
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/09/1799892/0/en/Gardening-This-Spring-Dermatologists-Share-Tips-to-Prevent-Skin-Problems-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/identifying-poison-ivy
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/content/poison-oak-identification-and-treatment
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/09/1799892/0/en/Gardening-This-Spring-Dermatologists-Share-Tips-to-Prevent-Skin-Problems-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/09/1799892/0/en/Gardening-This-Spring-Dermatologists-Share-Tips-to-Prevent-Skin-Problems-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://www.installitdirect.com/learn/hand-care-tips-for-gardeners/
- ↑ https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/gardening-health-news-251/how-to-avoid-skin-problems-when-you-garden-744962.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/index.htm
- ↑ https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/gardening-health-news-251/how-to-avoid-skin-problems-when-you-garden-744962.html
- ↑ https://www.uwhealth.org/madison-plastic-surgery/the-benefits-of-drinking-water-for-your-skin/26334
- ↑ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/gardening-tips-dont-let-the-bugs-bite
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/index.htm
- ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/09/1799892/0/en/Gardening-This-Spring-Dermatologists-Share-Tips-to-Prevent-Skin-Problems-American-Academy-of-Dermatology.html
- ↑ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/gardening-tips-dont-let-the-bugs-bite
- ↑ https://www.installitdirect.com/learn/hand-care-tips-for-gardeners/
- ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/protect-your-eyes-garden.html
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