Why does grass make me itchy?

So, you’ve been rolling around in the grass with the kids and the dog… sounds like a load of fun to me! Do you know what’s NOT fun? The stinging itch that creeps in shortly after.

I’ve been wondering what causes the itch and here’s what I found:

The most common reasons for grass rash are allergic reactions to pollen, microscopic cuts and bug bites. I cover all three below along with treatments and preventative measures.

Is it a grass allergy?

I can see how it would be easy to think that. After all, “hay fever” or “seasonal allergic rhinitis” is when pollen effects the mucus membranes of the nose, throat and eyes causing itching, swelling and sneezing.

As with anything…. if you experience constriction of your airways, swollen tongue or throat, dizziness or fainting, or a weak and rapid pulse you need to seek medical help immediately (call 9-1-1) as it may be a sign of severe allergic reaction.

Many people are mildly sensitive to different types of pollen, all of which can be carried on a soft breeze and settle on top of the grass. Rolling around or sliding into home could potentially rub the allergens into the skin causing an itchy inflammatory response.

The best remedy for this would be to:

• Gently wash or wipe the offending pollen/allergens off of the skin, hair, clothes… ahh, baby wipes to the rescue!
• Change clothing after outdoor activities. You don’t want to track that pollen around the house!
• Apply an anti-itch lotion to the effected area to soothe and calm the area.
• Blow your nose as you don’t want to carry those pesky allergens around with you for future assaults!

To prevent or minimize discomfort consider:

• If you have long hair (like me) tie it up into a bun while outdoors to minimize the amount of pollen you carry with you or track back into the house/car.
• Avoid pollen the best you can by not being outside on windy days if at all possible. Avoid grassy areas before noon as this is when pollen counts are at their peak.
• Wear protective clothing even if it means tossing on a light jacket or changing into a pair of pants/leggings.

Is it microscopic cuts and scrapes?

Ever look at a piece of grass under a microscope? The edges look like saw blades! “Blades” of grass, eh? This explains why I sometimes feel like I have a million tiny paper cuts after a romp in the grass.

Why only sometimes? Is it quality of the grass variety? Perhaps. Exposure to the sun afterward? Maybe.

I’ve found that my skin only really gets irritated when it comes into contact with water. Whether it’s from sweat, sticking my arms in sudsy dish water, taking a shower, using a wet wipe to clean an ice cream spill off my leg (#momlife), wiping down my children, letting the kids run through the sprinklers… that’s when the stinging itch strikes.

This leads me to believe the skin irritation is due to microscopic cuts and scrapes on the surface of my skin.

Find relief with:

• Antihistamine creams containing hydrocortisone.
• Ointments or salves containing camphor or menthol. Campho-phenique has been my longstanding favorite for everything from bites, scrapes to burns.
• (For more natural remedies, see the treatments for bug bites below as they work for both.)

Our new line of defense is:

• Wear long pants (at least) to the playground/park. This not only helps prevent grass irritation on a major area of the body but it reduces skinned knees too.
• Keep a soothing lotion on hand. I keep a tube or spray in my car to apply after playing in the grass. Aveeno, Benadryl, Gold Bond… just something to baby the skin and curb the itch.
• Use a picnic blanket. Years ago I was gifted a “Lightspeed” brand foldable, waterproof picnic blanket and it is top-notch. (Thanks Alexis!) I’ll tell you I can be holding an infant in one arm and FOLD the picnic blanket up with the other. It makes me feel like a superhero mom. We’ve been using it for the last ten years (still looks new) and they are still being sold on Amazon. Go get yourself one!

It really helps knowing that the discomfort, itch and rash can just come from little cuts from grass and is temporary. Knowing when to expect it also minimizes the stress and allows me to plan accordingly.

Insect bites?

A few folks are quick to point out that bug bites could also be the culprit.

• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums tend to come out around dusk and dawn, especially in areas close to water.
• Chiggers, fleas and ants could also be present and account for itchy welts.

Soothe bites with a few of these strategies:

• Apply cool/cold compresses of washcloth soaked with water and a splash of vinegar, damp teabags (used or not) or the inside of banana peel (to soothe and moisturize). Keep it chilled if possible to restrict blood vessels, reducing the spread of the allergy response.
• Honey and it’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties are a good bet for bites. I like to loosely cover mine with a bandage to prevent a sticky mess.
• Aloe (the juice from inside the leaf) can be applied directly and left to dry. Classic.
• Oatmeal or baking soda mixed with just enough water to form a paste also makes a classic home remedy for bug bites.
• If you are covered in bites a soak in a bath might be a good idea. Cool or warm but not too hot. Oatmeal, vinegar or baking soda can all be added to the bath water. Just a big handful or a couple glugs is fine. If you are using oatmeal I would recommend a mesh strainer to spare your drain. Grab the one from the kitchen if you really need to!

FUN FACT: Zinc oxide (which is found in everything from diaper creams to cigarette filters to breakfast cereal) when combined with iron creates calamine. And here I assumed calamine was a plant! Calamine lotion has been used as an anti-itch remedy as far back as 1500 B.C! Whoa.

My thought on zinc oxide was that in a pinch I could soothe a whiney toddler with grass cuts or bug bites by applying a zinc oxide diaper rash cream (I love Boudreaux’s Butt Paste partly because it smells like cookies. lol) I’ll toss some in my diaper bag and I’ll let you know how it goes!

Have a great tactic for avoiding itchy grass rash? Please share below. On behalf of all moms reading this, we’d love to hear it! XO