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Cow parsnip, the curse of the trail
Runners and hikers battle blistering rashes caused by plant and sunlight
(Page 3 of 3)
Lastufka ran through cow parsnip for years before getting a rash. Tracy Houser, a Palmer runner, said her problems with the plant started three years ago.
She'd been racing on the Crow Pass Trail wearing shorts. She developed a leg rash with blisters, some of which were several inches long and filled with fluid. Nothing seemed to make the blisters go away.
She'd have to try something new the next time on the trail.
What works -- and doesn't
When Houser entered the Crow Pass Crossing again, she decided she'd try wearing sunscreen.
The study by the Section of Epidemiology said racers who used sunscreen were less likely to have a rash than those who didn't.
But Houser said it didn't work and wondered if the sunscreen might have come off while she raced. Lastufka tried sunscreen and a product called Dermashield, but neither worked well.
Dermatologists say the best thing to do is steer clear of cow parsnip.
"Avoid it at all costs," said Dr. Tom Senter. Avoid exposure to sunlight too, Cusack said.
Houser searched the Internet for other solutions and found a reference to Palmolive dish detergent. She and other runners have tried washing off with it after running through cow parsnip.
When Shannon Donley joined Lastufka on the run through Crow Pass a few weeks ago, both tried the detergent trick. Donley said she never got the rash, but Lastufka did. So does the detergent work?
"It's hard to say," Houser said.
"It could just be an Internet myth, but we're trying it."
Sports medicine specialist Dr. Jay Caldwell said he doesn't know if there's anything special about dish detergent, but washing off in general is a good idea.
"The more quickly you can get rid of the irritant, the fewer problems there will be," he said. Cusack recommends using soap and water or just water if soap isn't available.
The Section of Epidemiology recommends covering the skin with clothing to prevent a rash. But Lastufka said wearing too much clothing could cause a runner to overheat.
Last year, Houser wore long pants and a long-sleeve shirt on Crow Pass trail. That wasn't a complete success, either.
"I still got it," Houser said. "I got it on my hands and face."
When she pushed her long sleeves up during the race, she got blisters on her forearms, too.
People with a mild rash can wait it out, as the blisters will soon go away. But those with an extensive rash should see a doctor.
Caldwell, Cusack and Senter prescribe cortisone, an anti-inflammatory that reduces swelling and itching. For small areas, a cortisone cream might work, Caldwell said. Cortisone pills might be needed for bigger problems, dermatologists said.
Lastufka has found something that provides relief. She buys the well-known hemorrhoid treatment Preparation H and rubs it over the bumps.
Senter said he wouldn't recommend Preparation H; it's the wrong medicine for the rash. Lastufka said she's chosen it because it makes the swelling go down and the itch go away.
"At this point," Lastufka said, "I figure whatever works."
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