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As camping season kicks off, memories are brought to the surface of hikes in the woods, days on the lake, and cozy moonlit fires. Unfortunately, the memories are not the only thing many families bring home. So many stories of camping trips include, "Do you remember that terrible case of poison ivy Uncle Bob had? He itched for days!" Poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak are often a big part of summer, but there are a few things everyone can do to make sure those irritating plants don't take over your family's vacation.
Poison ivy is by far the most common of the three plants and can be found most everywhere in the continental United States and Canada. You can spot poison ivy using the old adage of "Leaves of three, let them be." The pictures below show what all three of these poison plants might look like in the summer time.
While these may look harmless, people can get a skin rash when they touch the sap oil of the plant with their bare skin. The sap oil contains a substance called urushiol (u-ROO-shee-ol) which causes the allergic reaction. It takes very little urushiol to cause a rash - even less than a grain of salt. The sap oil will come off the skin very easily with soap and water, but most people are a bit too late and are already getting the rash. It is also important to know that the sap oil can stay in clothes and on pet hair if they are not washed well with soap and water. Even jackets,
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shoes, and outdoor tools carrying the sap oil will cause a rash up to a year later if not washed with soap and water or alcohol. If you do develop a poison ivy rash, it is important to wash all clothes you might have been wearing when you touched the plant to prevent another rash later.
What does this rash look like you may ask. It usually appears as a red, itchy rash with blisters. If you notice these symptoms, the first thing to do is wash with soap and water. This will get any remaining oil off your skin and prevent you from spreading the oil around. Most people believe that the fluid from the blisters spreads the rash, but it is actually just left-over sap oil. The rash is usually the worst between 4-7 days after exposure, but it can last up to 3 weeks.
The best treatment for poison ivy is prevention. Wearing long sleeves and pants when hiking or in the woods is best, but there is also a product called Ivy Block that can help prevent the rash.
There really is no cure for a poison ivy rash, so all anyone can do is try to relieve the itching. Scratching should be avoided because dirt from under the fingernails can spread infection through sensitive skin. Things that may relieve the itching of the rash are oatmeal baths, cool compresses, calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream. If these do not provide relief, you can try an antihistamine, such as Benadryl®
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or Zrytec®.
If these do not help, and the rash appears to be severe, you should call your doctor. In very serious cases, the doctor may prescribe prednisone or something like it. If the rash ever starts to look more yellow or has pus coming out, contact your doctor immediately. Poison ivy can also be very serious if it is burned and the smoke is inhaled. If a person has difficulty breathing and may have inhaled smoke with burning poison ivy, go directly to the emergency room.
Hopefully, armed with some knowledge and prevention tips, you will not need to go through the itchy rash of poison ivy this summer. Enjoy your outdoor summer fun and stay safe!
If you'd like more information, visit the Mayo Clinic website at: www.mayoclinic.com/health/poison-ivy/DS00774 OR Medline Plus at: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000027.htm.
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