Odense residents advised on dealing with oak processionary caterpillar hairs

Residents in Odense are being advised on how to cope with rashes and severe itching caused by the microscopic, barbed hairs of the oak processionary caterpillar, which have spread across the city’s oak trees, reports DR.

Carsten Bindslev-Jensen, a dermatologist and senior consultant at OUH’s Allergy Centre, offers three steps for those affected.

First, if exposure is recent, use tape to gently lift the hairs from the skin. The hairs, about 0.2 millimetres long, act like tiny harpoons, embedding themselves with backward-facing barbs.

Second, rinse the skin carefully with cold water to remove remaining hairs. Avoid scrubbing, as this can drive the barbs deeper into the skin.

Finally, for visible rashes, over-the-counter antihistamines are ineffective. Instead, steroid creams—some available only by prescription—are recommended to reduce inflammation and itching.