Why Does Grass Make You Itchy?

Why does Grass make you Itchy?

If you’re a fan of spending time in your garden or lawn like me, you must have realized that you feel itchy whenever you’re on the grass. While this might not be something you paid much attention to earlier, it is actually a pretty interesting thing! After all, Why does Grass make you Itchy?

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Today, we’re going to set off on our quest to find the answer to this question, as well as to discover the potential ways to reduce the itch as well as to avoid it entirely. We really hope that you would be able to learn at least something new from this article and that you would take your time to read it till the very end.

Why does Grass make you Itchy?

Itchiness is the feeling or sensation we get when our receptors that are present under our skin send signals of irritation to our brain- this happens a lot when it comes to actions such as rolling on grass.

Funnily enough, there are quite a few possible reasons owing to which we might feel itchy, some of which are as follows:

  • The blade of the grass leaves might actually cause really, really small scratches, and your receptors send in the irritation signal when sweat comes out of your sweat glands and touches these scratches.
  • Pollen Allergies are another major reason for itchiness in several people. Honestly, it is mostly found only when on inhales the pollen, but for some people it directly causes the skin to be itchy. It’s mostly just a minor itch and not much damage is caused, however, there are some cases where pollen allergies have actually caused a lot of damage. So, should you be allergic to pollen, you must not forget to seek medical advice in case of any unusual serious itchiness.
  • Grass has hair too! Yes, you heard me right- grass actually has really minute hair, and this often causes a ticklish sensation which irritates the skin and causes you to feel itchy. However, there’s not much to worry about in this case because it’s just momentary and there’s no long term impact of it.
  • Insects can also be the reason as to why you feel itchy- there are a whole lot of insects that can cause different types of itchiness, all the way from mosquitoes up to ants. If you’re out in the wild or an open field and you feel itchy, this might be one of the main reasons as to why you are feeling itchy.

Can you get grass cuts?

The thin nature of a blade of grass can cause microscopic scratches in your skin. When sweat — which contains salt — comes in contact with those tiny scratches, your skin is irritated, and you itch.

However, you might still be wondering about the different kind of cuts you can get from it. Normally, the cuts that you can get from, say, rolling on grass or just brushing against it gently are really minor. However, there are some varieties of grasses, where you might actually end up getting cuts like paper-cuts if you are not careful. So, don’t forget to do your research before you roll on the grass!

How do I know if I am allergic?

Whenever you ask yourself, “Why does Grass make you Itchy?”, one of the first thoughts that come to your mind is pollen allergies- and that is perfectly reasonable, because that really is one of the main reasons as to why a lot of people feel seriously itchy whenever they happen to go for outings.

Well, while serious allergies are pretty rare, quite a lot of people have minor allergies from pollen. And that can be a serious thing if you take it lightly. If you have a medical history, you must try to avoid situations that might make you uncomfortable, or at least be really cautious when you’re planning to go on an outing.

If you do not, however, have a medical history of pollen allergy, you must still be vigilant about any symptoms that might appear, such as a running nose, appearance of hives, headaches, feeling nauseous and so on. Should you feel any of these symptoms, you must seek for professional medical advice and be cautions that point onward- with the proper medical care, there will be no problem, so there is no reason to be too worried.

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How to Stop Feeling Itchy From the Grass

Itching, as we mentioned earlier, is a natural defense mechanism of the body. It makes you aware about the parts getting irritated so that you can pay more attention in order to prevent any potential harm. However, when you know that there is no reason to get worried, it becomes more of an annoyance than an actual concern.

As the WebMD says:

…exposure to tiny hairs or fibers can cause red bumps or patches, swelling, pain, or itching. “But anytime you have inflammation of the skin, a lot of the treatment is the same,” says Katta. First rule of thumb: avoid further irritation. “Anytime your skin is irritated, you really want to baby it.”

In a case like that, you might want to follow these steps, during and after the itchiness:

First, Clean the wound

The first step consists of carefully cleaning the wound. This is actually one of the most important parts, because you need to know what you should use. Ideally, running water and mild soap is the most recommended option, and the use of things that can irritate your skin even further, such as rubbing alcohol, are discouraged.

Second, Remove any thorns, spines etc

You might find that something is sticking out at the place where it’s itching, and it can range from anything all the way from a really thin spine up to a pretty sharp thorn, that has pierced into the skin. Removing these with extreme caution is essential. Should you be having problems removing any of them, seeking professional medical help is the best option.

Third, Reducing the Itch

Then comes the part you’ve been looking for- now it’s finally the time to get to reducing the itch. Experts recommend using cold water for a while, and letting it stop naturally. However, should the itching be really intense and unbearable, there are specific medicines available. You might want to see a medical professional to find out the exact medicine that’s suitable for you based on your medical history as well as the nature of the wound/itch.

Fourth, monitoring the area for possible infection

The final stage is to monitor the are a for a specific period of time after even after the itching is gone. While it might seem unimportant, this step is really important because if there’s any potential chance of infection and if you can spot it, you can get medical help at the right time!

So, don’t forget to monitor the area for the next week or so for any chances of infection. If anything seems out of the ordinary, don’t hesitate to seek immediate medical attention from a skin specialist.

How to Prevent Itchiness from the Grass?

Honestly, there really isn’t much one can do in this aspect. The itchiness is one of those things that just come with rolling on the grass. However, that doesn’t mean you always have to be passive about it- in fact, you actually need to be extra cautious if it’s causing a serious itch to you.

The best idea here would be to pay extra attention. This is the only logical solution here that might help you prevent itching or at least touching a plant or insect that might cause a serious itch or skin infection. So, being careful is the best solution as well as the best sort of prevention, making it one of the best courses of action given this scenario where there really isn’t much else that you can do.

Turf Mechanic is here with you!

So, if we ask ourselves again, “Why does grass make us itch?” we can say that while itchiness cannot be exactly avoided altogether if you’re planning to have fun in the grass, a little caution is always the best course of action. With a little more attention to your surroundings, you can ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones while you’re having fun in the lap of nature!

We really hope that this article was informative and you were able to learn something that would come in handy on your next trip! However, we understand that you might still have a few questions for us- and we’re eager to hear from you about them! We are here for you, and we always are on the lookout for helping you with the best information!

So, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us, because we are here for you! We really hope to see you again on our next article, and till then, we here at Turf Mechanic wish you a great day!