Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsTreatmentWhen to See a ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Prevention
Browntail moth caterpillars (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) have tiny barbed hairs containing toxins. These poisonous hairs cause skin rashes when touched and may cause breathing problems if inhaled.Treatment for a browntail moth rash focuses on managing your symptoms because it can’t be cured.
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When your skin comes into contact with the hairs, arashdevelops. This occurs due to a physical reaction to the barbed hair and a chemical reaction to the caterpillar hair toxin.The rash resembles apoison ivy rash, with red bumps that may form blisters.
The symptoms of a browntail moth rash include:
The rash typically lasts a few hours to a few days. If you’re more sensitive to the toxin, the rash can last several weeks.However, it isn’t contagious and doesn’t pass from one person to another.
About the Browntail Moth CaterpillarThe browntail moth caterpillar is approximately 1.5 inches long. Its body is brown with a broken white stripe on both sides and two orange-red spots on the tail.You can see the hairs covering its body.The caterpillar comes out of its nest in April and is a full-grown moth in July. While the caterpillar grows, it sheds its skin and drops its toxic hairs. The hairs get caught in grass, leaves, and trees and remain toxic to humans for up to three years.
About the Browntail Moth Caterpillar
The browntail moth caterpillar is approximately 1.5 inches long. Its body is brown with a broken white stripe on both sides and two orange-red spots on the tail.You can see the hairs covering its body.The caterpillar comes out of its nest in April and is a full-grown moth in July. While the caterpillar grows, it sheds its skin and drops its toxic hairs. The hairs get caught in grass, leaves, and trees and remain toxic to humans for up to three years.
The browntail moth caterpillar is approximately 1.5 inches long. Its body is brown with a broken white stripe on both sides and two orange-red spots on the tail.You can see the hairs covering its body.
The caterpillar comes out of its nest in April and is a full-grown moth in July. While the caterpillar grows, it sheds its skin and drops its toxic hairs. The hairs get caught in grass, leaves, and trees and remain toxic to humans for up to three years.
How to Treat a Browntail Moth Rash
There is no specific treatment or cure. As a result, browntail moth rash treatment focuses on relieving symptoms until they heal on their own.
The first step is to wash the area with soap and water as soon as you realize you came into contact with the caterpillar hairs. Or, wash after being outside if you’re in an infested area.Wash your clothing in hot water and dry in the dryer.
Use over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and home treatments to help relieve your symptoms.
OTC Medications
Use one of the following over-the-counter (OTC) medicines:
Another option is to make a browntail moth rash spray solution of OTC medications. The spray ingredients are as follows:
Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and keep in the refrigerator. Apply to the rash twice each day. The spray solution is good for 30 days.
Home Treatments
One of these home treatments may ease itchiness and pain:
Prescription Medications
No specific prescription medications are available to treat a browntail moth rash.
Compounding pharmacies can formulate prescription sprays or lotions to treat rash symptoms.Contact a healthcare provider to discuss this prescription and determine if it is right for your symptoms.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider if the rash is severe, covers a large area, does not respond to home treatment, or worsens.
Immediately call 911 if you or someone you’re with develops a serious reaction to a browntail moth rash, such asdifficulty breathingor a swollen mouth, tongue, or throat.
Preventing a browntail moth rash takes some effort but it pays off if it helps you avoid the uncomfortable rash.
Take these steps to prevent a browntail moth rash:
While it may not be possible to always avoid browntail moth caterpillar hairs, these prevention tips can help decrease the likelihood of exposure to their poisonous hairs.
Summary
The browntail moth caterpillar has tiny barbed hairs containing a toxin that causes a rash. The skin rash is typically bumpy, red, itchy, and painful and lasts days to weeks.
The rash has no cure, but OTC products and home treatments can ease the symptoms. If your symptoms do not get better or worsen, contact a healthcare provider.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maine Department of Health and Human Services.Browntail moth caterpillars fact sheet.The University of Maine.Browntail moth.Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.Browntail moths.MaineGeneral Health.Browntail moth prevention and treatment.Kennebec Pharmacy.Browntail moth rash symptoms and how to get relief.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maine Department of Health and Human Services.Browntail moth caterpillars fact sheet.The University of Maine.Browntail moth.Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.Browntail moths.MaineGeneral Health.Browntail moth prevention and treatment.Kennebec Pharmacy.Browntail moth rash symptoms and how to get relief.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services.Browntail moth caterpillars fact sheet.The University of Maine.Browntail moth.Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.Browntail moths.MaineGeneral Health.Browntail moth prevention and treatment.Kennebec Pharmacy.Browntail moth rash symptoms and how to get relief.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services.Browntail moth caterpillars fact sheet.
The University of Maine.Browntail moth.
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention.Browntail moths.
MaineGeneral Health.Browntail moth prevention and treatment.
Kennebec Pharmacy.Browntail moth rash symptoms and how to get relief.
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