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Welcome to my compedium website on Poison Ivy Prevention and Treatment

 This website is about Poison Ivy Treatment including Poison Sumac and Poison Oak, known  Toxicodendron radicans.  It's leaves can cause an  itchy fash, Allergen, There are variouis symptoms immunities and is usually not  contagious. Preventing contact with poison ivy is importan. You can get an allergic reaction with skin blotches being  diagnosised. It can also be  identified as Rhus Dermatitis.



 You can find this site again  by typing in the  Google search engine  the unique word "1yvInosioP "  which is  OR " PoisonIvy1 " backwards.

 

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If after you scan to the bottom of this  website and still can't find the information you are looking for try another Google search here.
Contact information for this Website:
 Brian Nelson, Webpage Marketing Consultant 
 31 Gessner Rd. Houston, TX  12/11/2006 08:50 AM -0600
713-467-3025  Fax 713-467-3192  Click: E-mail me

You are at: http://www.NewMedicalDirectories.com/Poison-Ivy/Prevention-Treatment.html    ud 12/11/2006 08:50 AM -0600  Bookmark this page now!

 
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Poison Ivy is a harmful vine or shrub in the cashew family. It grows plentifully in parts of the United States and southern Canada. Poison ivy usually grows as a vine twining on tree trunks or straggling over the ground. But the plant often forms upright bushes if it has no support to climb upon.

Species related to poison ivy include poison oak, which grows in the Pacific Northwest and nearby regions of Canada, and poison sumac, which grows in the Eastern United States. Poison oak and poison sumac both are shrubs. The tissues of all these plants contain a poisonous oil somewhat like carbolic acid. This oil is extremely irritating to the skin. It may be brushed onto the clothing or skin of people coming in contact with the plants.

Many people have been poisoned merely by taking off their shoes after walking through poison ivy. People can get poisoned from other people, but only if the oil remains on their skin. The eruptions themselves are not a source of infection.
 

Appearance - the leaves of poison ivy are red in early spring. Later in spring, they change to shiny green. They turn yellow, red or orange in autumn. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets more or less notched at the edges. Two of the leaflets form a pair on opposite sides of the leafstalk, while the third stands by itself at the tip of the leafstalk. Small greenish flowers grow in bunches attached to the main stem close to where each leaf joins it. Later in the season, clusters of poisonous, berry-like drupes form. They are whitish, with a waxy look.

Control and treatment: Efforts have been made to destroy these plants by uprooting them or by spraying them with chemicals. But poison ivy and poison oak are so common that such methods have not been very effective in eliminating them. Contact with the plants should be avoided.

After the oil has touched the skin, it usually takes some time for it to penetrate and do its damage. Before this happens, it is wise to wash the skin thoroughly several times with plenty of soap and water. Care should be taken not to touch any part of the body, for even tiny amounts of the oil will cause irritation. If poisoning develops, the blisters and red, itching skin may be treated with dressings of calamine lotion, Epsom salts, or bicarbonate of soda. Scientists have developed a vaccine that can be injected or swallowed. But this is effective only if taken before exposure.

Scientific Classification. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac belong to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Poison ivy is classified as Rhus radicans or Toxicondendron radicans. Poison oak is R. diversiloba or T. diversilobum and poison sumac is R. vernix or T. vernix.

Dealing with Poison Ivy

poison ivy plantAnyone who has a brush with poison ivy may be tempted to buy an ocean of calamine lotion. An allergic reaction to poison ivy can be uncomfortable, to say the least. According to estimates, about 70 percent of people are sensitive to it. Here are some tips on dealing with the plant.

Appearance
The best way to avoid that itchy feeling you get from a poison ivy rash is to avoid contact with the plant. The best way to avoid the plant entirely is to know what poison ivy looks like.

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is an adaptable, woody perennial weed that forms vines. The way it grows and looks and its location may vary. Some plants may carpet the ground while others climb tree trunks, stone walls, fences, and posts. The edges of the leaflets may be lobed, smooth or toothed. Poison ivy grows in the open, in deep shade, or along path and road edges. When it grows among other vines, it is more difficult to recognize.

Poison ivy plants have a compound leaf arrangement made up of three leaflets on a leafstalk. Two leaflets grow on opposing sides and the third stands by itself at the end of the stalk. Poison ivy leaflets sometimes have hairy undersides. Its stems are woody. The aerial rootlets make the stem look like a fuzzy rope.poison ivy - spring growth

Each season, poison ivy has a slightly different color and appearance. New springtime growth is often reddish and especially shiny. After the leaves emerge, the plants may develop a cluster of greenish flowers. Poison ivy fruit has a white, waxy appearance, a smooth surface and looks like mistletoe. Summertime foliage is either dull or glossy green. Fall foliage can be yellow, red or orange.

Dissemination
Poison ivy is persistent. Birds can eat the fruit and drop seeds, which germinate easily. In addition, the plant is spread by creeping rootstocks that extend from the parent plant. New plants can sprout from a small, buried root section that escapes cultural control attempts.

Allergen
Poison ivy leaves, stems, fruit, flowers, and roots contain a toxic substance called urushiol. It is released onto the plant surfaces when poison ivy is bruised or damaged. If a sensitive person’s skin touches such a plant, an allergic reaction can result. In addition, poison ivy can contaminate people indirectly when they touch clothing, garden tools, or pets, which came in contact with the poison ivy, or inhale the smoke from a burning plant. The oil remains potent for a couple of weeks, longer in very dry conditions.

Urushiol is present in all plants, at all times of the year, in about the same strength. However, it is easiest to get allergic contact dermatitis from poison ivy in the spring or early summer when leaves are tender and easily bruised.

Even a small amount of urushiol can cause a severe reaction in some people. How much oil gets on the skin, the sensitivity of the person who contacted the poison ivy and how quickly it is washed off may affect the severity of the symptoms. Thicker skin, such as that on the palms, is less susceptible than the thin skin on the face. Hairy and/or dark color skin is more resistant. A person is more susceptible to an allergic reaction when they are sweating because the pores of the skin are wide open and easily absorb the urushiol. According to Karl Hempel, a medical doctor in Florida, children become susceptible by age 3 and are highly susceptible by age 12.

Not everyone has an allergic reaction the first time he or she comes in contact with the plant. The body does develop an immune response on first contact that builds each time a person is exposed. Usually, repeated exposures result in increasingly severe reactions. A few people appear to be immune but, in fact, may react only to large amounts of urushiol.

Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear hours to several days after exposure. The skin itches intensely and may burn and swell. A rash with watery blisters develops. The rash may appear in streaks. Sometimes a secondary infection may develop in the open lesions.

A person who touches the actual rash or the fluid in the blisters cannot contract poison ivy. It will not spread from one part of the body to another that way. However, urushiol that remains on the skin or clothing, or on your pet’s fur, can be transferred to another person, which may result in a rash. Urushiol may be transferred from one unwashed spot to a different body part, which results in reexposure.

Treatment
Wash the oil off exposed skin and under the fingernails with plenty of soap and water. Speed is important. “As little as ten minutes of exposure may produce the allergic reaction,” Dr. Hempel said.

Washing with cold water is best because hot water opens the skin pores and aids in absorption of the oil. An alkaline soap is supposed to be more effective than a pH-neutral soap in breaking down the toxin.

For minor cases, an over-the-counter lotion or cream may ease the itching and dry up the blisters with limited success. Oatmeal or cornstarch baths and cold compresses are soothing. An over-the-counter antihistamine or anti-inflammatory can lessen the discomfort. Total healing may take a week or two.

Severe cases of allergic reactions to poison ivy require a doctor’s attention. Watch for fever, headache, widespread rashes and swelling or signs of infection. A doctor may prescribe oral, topical or injected steroids for serious cases. If the patient experienced severe cases in the past, he/she should consult with a doctor right after a known exposure to poison ivy.

My research failed to show any scientific studies of over-the-counter products that claim to prevent people from getting a rash once they are exposed to urushiol. However, the Food and Drug Administration approved bentoquatam 5%, which is available without a prescription. It provides a protection barrier when applied at least 15 minutes before exposure and reapplied every four hours. It should not be used if the individual already has a rash from the plant. Bentoquatam 5% is contained in a lotion and manufactured under the trade name, Ivy Block.

A superstitious story recommends eating poison ivy or rubbing it on the skin as a sort of immunization. Such a practice is not advised; it could result in a fatal reaction.

Weed Control
Control poison ivy culturally, biologically or chemically. Cultural methods, which may not be very appealing, include constantly mowing or cutting young shoots until the plants die. Vines that are climbing trees may be cut and pulled away from the trees. When the soil is wet, the roots can be dug up and pulled out of the soil. Any root sections left in the ground can sprout. Therefore, the whole plant must be removed to make the eradication effective. Dispose of plants where they cannot contaminate people or animals.

Remember the plant can be toxic at any time of the year. Cover as much skin as possible with protective gloves and clothing, such as rubber gloves, long pants, socks and shoes and a long-sleeved shirt. These items and tools that have come in contact with poison ivy must be cleaned to prevent the spread of urushiol. Clothes should be laundered in a washing machine with detergent.

Sheep and goats will eat poison ivy. They can be tied in the area of poison ivy infestation. Local laws and the neighbors’ disapproval may prohibit such a practice.

Do not destroy poison ivy with fire. When a poison ivy plant is burned, poisonous particles go into the air on the smoke. They can produce an allergic reaction in the eyes and respiratory tract or on the skin. Note: Be careful not to burn wood that has poison ivy vines, in your woodstove or fireplace.

Edmond L. Marrotte, Consumer Horticulturist at UConn’s Home and Garden Education Center, recommends Glyphosate as a control for poison ivy. (Some of the brand names of Glyphosate are Rounduptm and Kleenuptm.) Glyphosate should be applied as a 1½ to 2 % solution to the foliage in late August to October. Marrotte said it is not necessary to get the whole plant. Leaves can also be selectively "painted" with the solution using a disposable brush or cotton rag.

Read the herbicide label to make sure that poison ivy is listed on the label. Do not use herbicides in windy conditions. They could blow onto landscape plants or the applier. Use gloves approved for use with garden chemicals and avoid getting herbicide on the skin and in eyes.

Confine Glyphosate to weeds and avoid letting it or the spray drift contact any cultivated plants. It can damage or kill all plants. Repeated applications may be necessary.

Summary
Learn to recognize poison ivy. Always avoid it. Wear protective clothing when you are in areas where it is present. Keep pets away from the plants. If you have a brush with poison ivy accidentally, wash it off right away. If you resort to chemical weed control, apply it from late August to October for best effectiveness. However, do not stockpile oceans of calamine lotion to treat the rash. As my own doctor said, “The pink stuff is no good.” Try other products for better relief.

Facts about Poison Ivy

How do you get poison ivy?

From touching it, or touching something that has touched it, like your clothes or your dog. You normally get it from touching the leaves, but yanking the vine out by the roots - even in winter - will give you a wicked rash.

Using a weedeater to remove poison ivy will result in spraying your legs with poison ivy. If you are bare-legged and get scratches while splattered with sap from poison ivy, you may be headed to the emergency room.

And there are more unusual ways to get it, like breathing smoke from firewood burning with poison ivy on it. Which can also put people into the hospital.
What about immunity?

Some people appear to be immune, others become immune. HOWEVER, you can gain or lose immunity, so to assume you can't get it if you never have before is foolish. People change as they age. I would never assume that I was immune at any time no matter what my past experience was.

What it is like to get it?

At first you get a slight itchy spot, which gets worse and worse. It can be a a small itchy area that will annoy you, or it can cover your whole body with giant red sores that will drive you nuts. See the rash slide show to see the rash in real life.

What if you know you've been exposed to it?

Within a hour or so you should rinse with lots of cold water - like a garden hose. Hot water will open your pores and let the oil in. Taking shower could be a disaster (see my father's story, "Washing made it spread."

For up to about 6 hours washing with alcohol may still help remove the oil, but many say that after 1/2 hour the oil has soaked in and you can't remove it.

The next day is really too late. Check with your doctor to see if early treatment can prevent the rash before it really starts.

What can you do once the itching starts?

For a serious case you MUST SEE A DOCTOR for prescription medicine. For less serious cases check with your local drugstore or see the list below for remedies.

What are some common remedies for the rash?

These companies make two kinds of products - creams to block the oil from getting into your skin, and remedies once you have the rash:

Buji Skin Products
Tec Labs, Makers of Tecnu
Sumactin, Rash Remedy
Zanfel, skin wash

Is it contagious?

Once you have the rash the oil has been absorbed and you probably can't spread it to others or elsewhere on yourself. If you get big blisters filled with liquid it is mostly water and will not spread the rash even if they break.

What causes the rash?

There is an oil, called urushiol, that causes an allergic reaction after the first sensitizing exposure. The oil is in the leaves, vines, and roots. That's why tearing out the vine is so dangerous - it releases lot of urushiol.

Aren't there 2 types of poison ivy?

Technically there is the climbing variety (toxicodendron radicans) and the nonclimbing (toxicodendron rydbergii) or Rydberg's poison ivy. But since they interbreed, look very similar, sometimes grow in the same places, and give you the same rash I have ignored the difference.

Where does it grow?

Everywhere in the US and southern Canada except the far west, deserts and at high altitude. In the west they have poison oak, which is very similar. Both love roadsides and edges of fields. Anybody know how far into Canada and Mexico it goes?

 

 

Poison Ivy Treatment Guide

Outsmarting Poison Ivy

With the rise in childhood obesity and more and more kids spending too much time inside playing video games and watching TV, most parents love when their kids go outside to play. Unfortunately, in addition to the sun and bugs, poison ivy can be a big problem for kids playing outside. Poison ivy can also be a hazard to gardeners, hikers, campers, and anyone else who likes to spend time outdoors.

Although some people truly are immune to poison ivy, most people develop a rash after coming into contact with poison ivy or the similar plants, poison sumac and poison oak. If you think you are immune because you have never developed a rash before, keep in mind that it can sometimes take multiple exposures or several years before you finally begin to develop an allergic response to urushiol, the chemical in poison ivy that triggers the rash that most people get.

Whether or not you think that your kids are immune to poison ivy, it is a good idea to not take any chances and to teach your kids how to recognize and avoid poison ivy.

Unfortunately, the old 'leaves of three, let it be' phrase isn't usually enough to help kids avoid poison ivy.

Avoiding Poison Ivy

Instead, review some pictures of poison ivy so that they really know what to look for. Since poison oak and poison oak can trigger the same rash, knowing how to recognize and avoid these plants is important too.

Next, go on an expedition and see if you can find the poison ivy in your yard or other places where your kids play. To be safe, wear long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves, to minimize the chance that you will accidentally be exposed to poison ivy.

If you find it, either take steps to get rid of it or teach your kids to avoid those areas.

Treating Poison Ivy Exposures

If you are exposed, according to the FDA, you should quickly (within 10 minutes):

  • first, cleanse exposed areas with rubbing alcohol.
  • next, wash the exposed areas with water only (no soap yet, since soap can move the urushiol, which is the oil from the poison ivy that triggers the rash, around your body and actually make the reaction worse).
  • now, take a shower with soap and warm water.
  • lastly, put gloves on and wipe everything you had with you, including shoes, tools, and your clothes, with rubbing alcohol and water.

Unfortunately, if you wait more than 10 minutes, the urushiol will likely stay on your skin and trigger the poison ivy rash. You may not be able to stop it on your skin, but you might still scrub your nails and wipe off your shoes, etc., so that you don't spread the urushiol to new areas.

Commercial products, like Zanfel, Ivy Cleanse Towelettes, and Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, are also available over-the-counter, if you don't want to use rubbing alcohol.

Remember that poison ivy isn't contagious though, so touching the rash won't actually spread it.

Since your kids get poison ivy a lot, having a 'poison ivy action kit' ready, with rubbing alcohol, a large bottle of water, and some soap, might be a good idea. Since rubbing alcohol can be poisonous, children should be supervised with it though and it is not something you should send off into the woods with them.

Preventing Poison Ivy

In addition to getting rid of poison ivy when you find it, you can avoid poison ivy by:

  • wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves when your kids will be most at risk, especially when playing in wooden areas, around lakes, or going on hikes
  • apply Ivy-Block to exposed areas


Poison Ivy

Did You Know?

Scratching poison ivy blisters will not spread the rash. In addition, the poison ivy rash is not contagious -- only urushiol (oil found in the sap of poison ivy) can cause a reaction.

What is poison ivy?
Poison ivy is a type of Native American plant which causes an allergic skin reaction in almost 85 percent of people exposed to the plant. Two other plants, poison oak and poison sumac, are also often called poison ivy and have the same allergic effect.

What causes the allergic reaction?
The resin in the plants contains an oily substance called urushiol. Urushiol is easily transferred from the plants to other objects, including tools and animals. This chemical can remain active for more than a year. When a person touches this substance, either directly or indirectly, a reaction often occurs. In addition, when poison ivy is burned, the airborne urushiol particles may come in contact with your skin.

What are the symptoms of poison ivy?
The following are the most common symptoms of poison ivy. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently:

  • a contact dermatitis rash characterized by bumps and blisters that itch.
  • swelling in the area of contact sometimes occurs.
  • blisters that eventually break open, ooze, and then crust over

The symptoms of poison ivy may resemble other dermatologic conditions. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

Treatment for poison ivy:
Prevention is the key to avoiding a poison ivy reaction. However, if you are aware that you came into contact with the plant, wash the exposed area immediately. Also, wash your clothes and any other gear that came into contact with the plant. If a rash develops, treatment may include the following:

  • cool showers
  • over-the-counter anti-itching creams such as calamine lotion
  • oatmeal or baking soda baths
  • prescription cortisone (if the reaction is severe)
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Poison Ivy, Sumac, and Oak

What is poison ivy, sumac, or oak?
"Poisoning" from plants such as poison ivy, sumac, and oak is an allergic reaction that results when the skin touches these plants and their oils. Most people develop a rash, blisters, and itching after contact with them. Cases usually occur in the spring and summer.

Poison ivy and oak have three leaves on each stem and grow as a vine or bush. Sumac has two rows of leaves opposite each other and one leaf at the end of the stem. It grows as a bush or tree. The leaves of all three plants are shiny and coated with an oily chemical, which causes the allergic reaction. The oils are also in the stems and roots of these plants.

How does it occur?
The reaction occurs after touching poison ivy, sumac, or oak. A reaction can also occur after contact with anything else that may carry the plant's oils, including ashes and smoke from burning plants. It can also be spread by touching oil left on clothes or tools. The rash often appears on the face first and then on other exposed areas of the body. Typically it is first noticed 24 to 48 hours after contact. How bad the rash will be depends on the thickness of your skin and how much contact you had with the plant's oils.

Sometimes there is a delayed reaction, and the rash develops on one area of your skin after the others. The rash cannot be spread by scratching itchy skin or from oozing blisters. However, scratching may lead to infection of the open sores.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of an allergic reaction to poison ivy, sumac, or oak include the following, from least serious to most serious:

• itching, often intense
• red blotches that can be either raised or flat
• blisters, which may show up in lines
• fever
• headache
• swelling of your throat and eyes
• overall swelling of your body
• general feeling of discomfort
• stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based on your having the symptoms listed above and on a physical exam by your doctor.

How is it treated?
To treat poison ivy, sumac, or oak, follow these steps:

• Remove your clothes and shoes and wash them in detergent and hot water.
• As soon as possible, wash all exposed skin with strong soap and water (or just water) to remove the plant's oils.
• Apply cloths soaked in aluminum acetate solution (Burow's solution), then calamine lotion or ointment to reduce the redness, ease the itching, and help dry up the blisters. Or take lukewarm baths with cornstarch (1/2 cup) or colloidal oatmeal added to ease the itching. DO NOT use topical antihistamines.
• Cover any oozing blisters with a clean gauze bandage soaked in a baking soda and water solution.

If the rash spreads to your face, mouth, eyes, or genitals, or if you develop a fever, headache, extreme redness, pus, or other severe symptoms, see your doctor. He or she will recommend one or more of the following:

• applying corticosteroid ointment or cream to the affected areas two to three times a day, gradually reducing to once a day
• taking oral corticosteroids such as prednisone
• taking oral antibiotics or using an antibiotic cream if an infection develops.

Because these are all potent drugs, ask your doctor about any possible side effects or interactions with other drugs you may be taking.

How long will the effects last?
In most people, the condition clears up in 2 to 3 weeks.

How can I take care of myself?
Follow the steps outlined above to treat your rash. In addition, keep the affected skin clean and dry. Keep your fingernails well trimmed and clean. Try not to scratch your skin to avoid an infection.

See your doctor if you develop severe symptoms.

What can be done to help prevent a reaction to poison ivy, sumac, or oak?
Follow these guidelines:

• Know what the plants look like and where they grow so you can avoid them.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you are going to be in an area where these plants grow.
• Within 5 to 10 minutes of contact with the plant, rinse exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water (or just water).
• Be sure to clean under your fingernails.
• Wash clothes and shoes in hot water and detergent to remove any oil that may be on them.
• Give any outdoor pets a bath if you think they have had contact with the plants

 

Poison Ivy: Prevention And Treatment

It's the world's most common allergy, affecting nearly half of all Americans. Each year, about 50 million people get a reaction from poison ivy, sumac and oak — including many people who aren't allergic to anything else.

The wicked itch and bothersome rash are the result of urushiol oil, a potent toxin. Get as little as one-billionth of a gram on your skin and you might be scratching yourself silly. And a lot more than that billionth of a gram is released when the plant is disturbed through direct contact with its stem, leaves or roots. Here's how to prevent and treat poison plant reactions:

Prevention

Dose yourself with deodorant
There are effective commercial products that can help keep the urushiol oil from getting into your skin. But in a pinch, try what members of the U.S. Forestry Service have done before venturing into nature: Spray some deodorant on your arms and legs. According to some dermatologists, the active ingredient in deodorants, aluminum chlorohydrate, can prevent urishiol from irritating the skin. Just be careful not to spray any on your face.

Don't be Touchy
You can spread urushiol-containing oils from one area of your body to others if you touch the contaminated area and get oils on your hands. It is also possible to acquire poison ivy, oak, or sumac by touching the fur of your pet, if the animal has contacted these plants.

Give yourself, clothing and tools a good wash — quickly
First the bad news: Since urushiol oil can remain potent for up to five years, you can get a reaction from touching tools or clothing that were used to dig up poison ivy years earlier. The good news: If you wash yourself and those items in soapy water within 10 minutes of contact, you can help to minimize the rash.

To remove the plant oil, it is best to first use a solvent that can separate the oil from your skin surface. Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is very effective, as are gasoline, acetone, or a commercially available solvent (Tecnu). After wiping your skin with rubbing alcohol, you should rinse thoroughly with water. If you do not have a solvent available, it is still helpful to rinse thoroughly in water as quickly as possible after your contact with the plant.

Treatment

The poison ivy rash develops one to two days after exposure. Once the rash develops, treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms, calming the inflamed skin and protecting it from infection, and helping blisters to heal.

Head to the kitchen for help
Calamine lotion can be very soothing for the itchy rash of poison ivy. Calamine lotion that is not diluted with water can form a thin crust over the rash, which can make it less sensitive. For mild cases this may be all you need. In treating children, avoid combination products that contain antihistamines because too much antihistamine can be absorbed through the skin. In both children and adults, a compress with ice-cold whole milk helps dry the rash and soothe the itch, but don't use skim milk: It's the fat in milk that helps.

Milk of magnesia also may help because it's an alkaline solution, like calamine. Because it's thinner than calamine, it can be easier to apply.

Apply ice
The fastest and cheapest treatment to temporarily soothe pain and itching is plain ice. If you have weeping or blisters, applying ice is not advised. For dry skin without blisters, it is safe to place a cube directly on the irritated skin for about one minute. The coolness of the ice helps soothe itching, if only temporarily.

From the Pharmacy
Without a prescription, you can also buy antihistamines to control itching, such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Aveeno Oatmeal in lotion, salve or bath forms is also helpful for relieving the itch.

Get professional help
For severe cases, when the rash is all over the body, on the face, or blistering, you may need to visit your doctor for antihistamines, topical or oral steroids, all of which can effectively treat the rash and itching. Steroids are most helpful when they are initiated quickly after the rash appears. Topical steroids are not recommended for weeping or blistered rashes.

Time Heals All
The rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac clears without treatment after approximately two weeks. It is possible to have some residual itching, which can stay active longer if you scratch. If you have irritating itching once your blisters have healed, a prescription steroid cream from your doctor should bring relief.

 

Poison Ivy
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What is poison ivy?

Poison ivy is a very common plant found in most parts of the United States. It has two forms. One form is a low plant. It is usually found in groups of many plants and looks like weeds growing from 6 to 30 inches high. The other form is a "hairy" vine that grows up a tree. Each form has stems with 3 leaves. You may have heard the old saying, "Leaflets three, let it be." This is because most people are allergic to poison ivy.

How does poison ivy cause a rash?

The poison ivy plant contains an oil called urushiol (say: oo-roo-shee-ohl). Most people are allergic to urushiol. If you are allergic to it and you get it on your skin, you'll develop an itchy, red rash. You can get the oil on your skin by:

  • touching the poison ivy plant
  • touching any clothing, including shoes, that have come in contact with the plant.
  • touching any gardening tools that may have the oil on it.
  • touching any outdoor pets that have been around poison ivy and have gotten the oil on their hair.
  • burning the poison ivy plant. The oil from the plant is carried in the smoke.

What is a poison ivy rash like?

A poison ivy rash will usually begin to appear 1 to 2 days after coming in contact with urushiol. The affected area will get red and swollen. A day or so later, small blisters will begin to form, and the rash will become very itchy. During this time, it's important to try to keep from scratching the blisters. Bacteria from under your fingernails can get into the blisters and cause an infection. After about a week, the blisters will start to dry up and the rash will start to go away. In severe cases, where the poison ivy rash covers large parts of the body, it may last much longer.

How is poison ivy treated?

If you think that you've come in contact with the poison ivy plant, you need to wash your skin as soon as possible. You should use soap and cool water. This may help to get some of the urushiol off your skin.

Once a rash starts to develop, there are several over-the-counter medications you can use to relieve the itching, including:

  • hydrocortisone creams (brand name: Cortizone-10)
  • calamine lotion
  • Antihistamine tablets, such as diphenhydramine (one brand name: Benadryl) 
  • oatmeal baths

You should call your doctor if:

  • you have fever over 100 degrees
  • the rash covers large areas of your body
  • the rash is in your eyes or mouth or on your genital area
  • there is pus coming from the blisters
  • the rash does not get better after a few days

 

Poison Ivy...Outsmarting Poison Ivy and It's Cousins

What is poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac?

 

The Summer is upon us and so are those nasty rashes from brushing up against poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac.  Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop an allergic reaction if exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac

Usually, people develop a sensitivity to poison ivy, oak or sumac only after several encounters with the plants, sometimes over many years. However, sensitivity may occur after only one exposure.

The cause of the rash, blisters, and infamous itch is urushiol (pronounced oo-roo-shee-ohl), a chemical in the sap of poison ivy, oak and sumac plants. Because urushiol is inside the plant, brushing against an intact plant will not cause a reaction. But undamaged plants are rare.

Poison oak, ivy and sumac are very fragile plants, and stems or leaves broken by the wind or animals, and even the tiny holes made by chewing insects, can release urushiol.

Reactions, treatments and preventive measures are the same for all three poison plants. Avoiding direct contact with the plants reduces the risk but doesn't guarantee against a reaction. Urushiol can stick to pets, garden tools, balls, or anything it comes in contact with. If the urushiol isn't washed off those objects or animals, just touching them--for example, picking up a ball or petting a dog--could cause a reaction in a susceptible person. (Animals, except for a few higher primates, are not sensitive to urushiol.)

Urushiol that's rubbed off the plants onto other things can remain potent for years, depending on the environment. If the contaminated object is in a dry environment, the potency of the urushiol can last for decades, says Epstein. Even if the environment is warm and moist, the urushiol could still cause a reaction a year later.

Almost all parts of the body are vulnerable to the sticky urushiol, producing the characteristic linear (in a line) rash. Because the urushiol must penetrate the skin to cause a reaction, places where the skin is thick, such as the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, are less sensitive to the sap than areas where the skin is thinner. The severity of the reaction may also depend on how big a dose of urushiol the person got.

What can you do to avoid poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac?

Learn what poison ivy looks like and avoid it. While "leaves of three, beware of me, is the old saying, "leaflets of three, beware of me" is even better because each leaf has three smaller leaflets.

Wash garden tools regularly, especially if there is the slightest chance that they've come into contact with poison ivy. If you know you will be working around poison ivy, wear long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves.

Hikers, emergency workers, and others who have a difficult time avoiding poison ivy may benefit from a product called Ivy Block, made by EnviroDerm Pharmaceuticals Inc.. It's the only FDA-approved product for preventing rashes from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. The OTC lotion contains bentoquatam, a substance that forms a clay-like coating on the skin.

If you come into contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, wash the skin in cool water as soon as possible to prevent the spread of urishiol. If you get a rash, oatmeal baths and calamine lotion can dry up blisters and bring relief from itching. You can also talk to a health care professional about medicines that may help.

How can you deal with the rash?

If you don't cleanse quickly enough, or your skin is so sensitive that cleansing didn't help, redness and swelling will appear in about 12 to 48 hours. Blisters and itching will follow. For those rare people who react after their very first exposure, the rash appears after seven to 10 days.

Because they don't contain urushiol, the oozing blisters are not contagious nor can the fluid cause further spread on the affected person's body. Nevertheless, Epstein advises against scratching the blisters because fingernails may carry germs that could cause an infection.

The rash will only occur where urushiol has touched the skin; it doesn't spread throughout the body. However, the rash may seem to spread if it appears over time instead of all at once. This is either because the urushiol is absorbed at different rates in different parts of the body or because of repeated exposure to contaminated objects or urushiol trapped under the fingernails.

The rash, blisters and itch normally disappear in 14 to 20 days without any treatment. But few can handle the itch without some relief. For mild cases, wet compresses or soaking in cool water may be effective. Oral antihistamines can also relieve itching.

There are a number of OTC products to help dry up the oozing blisters, including:

  • aluminum acetate (Burrows solution)
  • baking soda
  • Aveeno (oatmeal bath)
  • aluminum hydroxide gel
  • calamine
  • kaolin
  • zinc acetate
  • zinc carbonate
  • zinc oxide

How to identify poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac

 

Unfortunately, poison ivy, oak and sumac don't grow with little picture ID badges around their stems, so you have to know what to look for. To avoid these plants and their itchy consequences, here's what to look for.

Poison Ivy

  • grows around lakes and streams in the Midwest and the East
  • woody, ropelike vine, a trailing shrub on the ground, or a free-standing shrub
  • normally three leaflets (groups of leaves all on the same small stem coming off the larger main stem), but may vary from groups of three to nine
  • leaves are green in the summer and red in the fall
  • yellow or green flowers and white berries

Poison Oak

  • eastern (from New Jersey to Texas) grows as a low shrub; western (along the Pacific coast) grows to 6-foot-tall clumps or vines up to 30 feet long
  • oak-like leaves, usually in clusters of three
  • clusters of yellow berries

Poison Sumac

  • grows in boggy areas, especially in the Southeast
  • rangy shrub up to 15 feet tall
  • seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets
  • glossy pale yellow or cream-colored berries

 

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy - Rhus Dermatitis

Poison ivy is known in medical terms as Rhus Dermatitis which is a type of contact dermatitis. As the name implies, a contact dermatitis is an irritation of the skin caused by contact with a specific irritant. In the case of poison ivy, the irritant is called urushiol which is a resin found in the plants in the Anacardiaceae family and the Rhus genus. Plants included in this classification are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Also included are the cashew nut tree, mango tree, Japanese lacquer tree, and marking nut tree.

Poison Ivy
The appearance of poison ivy, oak, and sumac varies by regions and season. Poison ivy leaves are most likely to be in groups of three and notched, although they can be smooth edged. Poison ivy is usually found east of the Rocky Mountains growing as vines or shrubs.

Poison Oak
Poison oak leaves come in groups of three, five, or seven.

 

They are smaller than poison ivy leaves and have smooth, rounded edges. Poison oak is usually found west of the Rocky Mountains as a small bushy plant or climbing vine.

Poison Sumac
Poison sumac has seven to thirteen leaves on one stem angled upward. They are smooth edged, oval and about 10 cm long. Poison sumac is found in boggy areas in the south.

Interesting Facts About Poison Ivy
In the United States poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac cause more cases of contact dermatitis than any other agents combined. Rhus dermatitis accounts for 10% of the US Department of Agriculture and Forestry Services lost time injuries. Twenty-five million to 40 million Americans require medical attention after being exposed to one of these plants.

Poison Ivy occurs from contact with the leaf or internal parts of the stem or root of the plant. Eight to 48 hours after exposure to urushiol the characteristic rash appears. This rash is typically red, contains blisters, and is in a linear or circular pattern. Urushiol can be found under fingernails, on clothing, and on tools unless it is deliberately removed. The resin itself can be active and cause a new rash for up to 3 weeks after exposure. Urushiol is not found in blister fluid and not responsible for spreading the rash. If untreated, the rash usually resolves in 3 weeks.

Treatment of Poison Ivy
The most common sites on the body for poison ivy are exposed areas on the arms, legs, and face. The intensity of the rash varies depending on the sensitivity of the person, and the amount and extent of exposure.

  • Washing the skin with soap and water inactivates and removes the resin. Washing is most effective if it is done within 15 minutes of exposure.
  • Cold, wet compresses are effective in the blistering stage. They should be used for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day for the first 3 days.
  • Steroid creams or ointments are helpful to reduce redness and itching. Hydrocortisone can be used on the face, but is usually not strong enough for more than mild cases on the arms or legs. Typically, a prescription strength steroid is needed for these areas.
  • Oral steroids are used for severe cases of poison ivy but must be used for at least a week.
  • Short, cool tub baths with colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno) can be soothing and help control inflammation.
  • Calamine lotion helps control itching but used too long can cause excessive drying of the skin and more inflammation.
  • Antihistamines help reduce itching and the older types such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) help encourage sleep.
  • Any exposure to the eyes or eyelids or the development of a honey-colored crust should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Prevention of Poison Ivy

  • Desensitization is not effective either by chewing leafs or having commercially prepared extracts injected.
  • The most effective prevention is using a barrier to protect the skin. Clothing serves as an effective barrier but since the urushiol remains on the clothing, it must be removed carefully and laundered without contacting the skin.
  • Urushiol can penetrate latex gloves but not rubber gloves.
  • A lotion containing 5% quaternium-18 bentonite (IvyBlock) can be applied to the skin and provides a barrier for 4 to 8 hours. It must be washed off and reapplied for continued exposure
 
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