Patient's question:
Half-year illness description: Just now, many needles were stuck, leaving some small holes. Some were pulled out. Past treatment history and effectiveness: Some needles were pulled out, but some needle marks remained. What kind of help do you want: Are they toxic? What should I doDoctor's answer:
Cacti spines are not poisonous. The redness and swelling that occur when skin is pricked by a cactus spine are caused by minor local infections from bacteria that adhere to the spine in the air, not by toxicity. After being pricked by a cactus, never rub or squeeze the area, as this can break off the tips of the spines. Blowing on the pricked area with your mouth or a hairdryer can help remove some spines that did not penetrate the skin or went in very shallowly. Larger spines can be gently grasped with tweezers and pulled out in the opposite direction of their entry. Rice cakes rolled into balls and rolled back and forth over the cactus spines can help remove small fuzzy spines.