Wild Parsnip Causes Blisters On Woman's Leg: How To Treat Chemical-Like Burns

A 21-year-old woman received burns equivalent of second-degree chemical burns on her legs after coming in contact with a wild parsnip plant in Essex, Vermont, earlier this month.

Charlotte Murphy brushed her leg against the poisonous plant when she pulled over her car on the side of the road to use the bathroom. She just had itchy red bumps initially. However, after a few days, she had to go to a burn specialist as huge yellow blisters — comparable to second-degree chemical burns — appeared on her legs.

“Unfortunately, I scratched it a lot in my sleep and woke up with blisters on my leg,” she said, adding next morning “there was a start of a really big blister, and my leg was so swollen I couldn’t walk.”

That evening she showed her parents the blisters and they all realized it was bad. “I was in a state of panic of how the blisters grew so much in a day,” she said.

She was rushed to an urgent care clinic where doctors said she could develop infection.

“They hadn’t really seen wild parsnip case this extreme and were unsure of what to do at first," she said.

Doctors bandaged her legs and gave Murphy antibiotics as they were unable to drain out the blisters. “They tried to drain the big blister that was like the size of a tennis ball but they couldn't it because it was gelatinous, almost like a pudding-like consistency,” she said.

She then went to the University of Vermont’s trauma and burn center a few days later, where the wounds were treated.

According to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine, “wild parsnip contains chemicals in the juices of its green leaves, stems and fruits that can cause an intense, localized burn — actually, a sunburn.”

The chemicals absorbed into the skin from the plant can make the person more sensitive to ultraviolet light and it “destroys cells and skin tissue, though the reaction takes time to produce visible damage.”

Murphy was aware of the dangers of the plant as she had accidentally poured little of wild parsnip oil on her hand two years ago.

“It went away — so I thought this would go away, too,” she said, Fox News reported.

She put out her story on Facebook recently thinking it would teach others about the danger of the plant.

According to the magazine, it is very important to relieve the symptoms of burns as soon as you come in contact with wild parsnip plant. Cover the affected area with a cool, wet cloth and try to keep the blisters from rupturing for as long as possible. Immediately apply an antibiotic cream to reduce chances of infection and keep the area clean.

Blisters can be dried by adding Domeboro powder to the cloth compresses. In case of extreme discomfort, topical or systemic cortisone-steroid can also be used. However, one should consult a doctor in cases of extensive blistering.

Since the chemical from the plant can make people sensitive to UV rays, they should avoid exposure to the sun and use gloves, long pants and long-sleeve shirts.