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It's the time of year that the trails are increasingly being blocked with nettles and I'm not overly chuffed about it.
It feels like I'm particularly susceptible to their sting and every Sunday night after a ride or run I can barely sleep due to the sting in my legs. Others who I run/ride with don't seems to suffer for as long.
So, short of covering my legs up (not happening) how can I stop, or at least calm down the sting? Unsuccessful methods so far are cold showers, antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream, ibuprofen and rubbing aloe vera on them.
Thanks all!
If you rub the stings hard it pushes the barbs through the skin to a layer that isn't as affected.
Same principle as using dock leaves.
At least that is my understanding
If I'm sweating hard at the time of stinging that seems to help a lot, so work harder?
Failing that (as I often do) I find a scalding hot shower and light scrubbing fixes it, I don't know if it pulls the spines out or something but it works for me.
Maybe just do one leg for a controlled experiment?
If you rub the stings hard it pushes the barbs through the skin to a layer that isn’t as affected.
Yeah, I find if I rub them straight away with gloved hand, they don't sting anywhere near as much.
This stuff is good for relief
. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frezyderm-Crilen-After-Nip-X/dp/B00TIVHT7E
I hate to be that guy but why not cover up? My nukeproof trousers are barely any warmer than shorts and are super comfortable, and I never have to worry about nettle stings on my legs.
I just embrace it. Brambles ripping my arms the shreds though, they can do one
So weirdly, I don't mind the ripped arms and legs, that's just a bit of blood and some scratches. The on going sting from the nettles is what I'm trying to lessen.
I hate to be that guy but why not cover up?
I could be persuaded for riding, but there's no way I'm running in trousers.
Cut them back?
Burn them down and salt the earth?
I just apply chamomile lotion after a shower when I get home.
Gorse is what usually gets me though.
Dock leaves don’t work
But the juicy leaf buds do... Crushem and use them like aloe
I could be persuaded for riding, but there’s no way I’m running in trousers.
This is a biking forum - problem solved.
:yes:
If I’m sweating hard at the time of stinging that seems to help a lot
I find that an immediate squirt from my water bottle makes a surprising difference ime, or failing that a large amount of saliva applied via fingertips.
I think the secret is to dilute it as quickly as possible.
For my kids, I rebranded nettle stings as "Adventure Tingles" to see if a more positive mindset would assuage the discomfort.
It didn't.
I find that sending a mate 1st reduces (though not eliminates) the stings
I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t give a shit any more. That’s just a tingle, the pain from the arthritis in my hands and knees, on the other hand… 🙁
What about the other hand ?
Trousers and long sleeve tops for me.
I tired keeping some local trails clear of nettles and brambles. It was satisfying but I don't have the time with two wee ones now.
I might start taking secateurs out for a bit of a clear.
If you rub the stings hard it pushes the barbs through the skin to a layer that isn’t as affected.
Interesting, I used dock leaves the other day, it seems to work for me but I did wonder if there was something more mechanical rather than chemical going on.