Know the Perils of Poison Ivy

WARE — Warm summer weather means more time outside. As you start your summertime activities and take those walks in the woods, or even play in the tall grass, remember the potential to come in contact with the dreaded three-leafed plant, poison ivy.

“It’s important to know how to avoid poison ivy and sumac, which are quite common in this region,” said Dr. Richard Gerstein, chair of Emergency Medicine at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. “People who are allergic to these plants develop an extremely itchy, red skin rash with bumps and blisters wherever the oils from the leaves have touched their skin.

“An allergic reaction to the oil in these plants, called urushiol, produces the rash,” he continued. “Once you’re exposed to urushiol, a rash can occur from several hours to three days after contact with the plant. While direct skin-to-plant contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac is probably the most frequent cause of the rash, the irritants from the plants can also be passed on indirectly by pets, garden tools, shoes, or virtually anything that touches a plant.”

Rinsing one’s skin immediately with lukewarm water after touching poison ivy, oak, or sumac may help to rinse off some of the oil and lessen or avoid the rash, Gerstein added. “Beware that the oil can stick to clothing and other surfaces as well, so be sure to also wash the clothes you were wearing when you came into contact with the poisonous plant, as well as gardening tools, golf clubs, leashes, and even a pet’s fur.”

According to the American College of Dermatology, only urushiol oil can cause the rash. Most people (85{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}) develop a rash when they get urushiol on their skin. The rash caused by these plants is not contagious and does not spread. Scratching the rash or the leaking fluid from the blisters does not spread the rash, although it can cause scarring and potential infection.

Urushiol can remain active for years. For that reason, even dead poison ivy, oak, or sumac plants must be handled with care. Plants should never be burned or shredded, as airborne particles can spread the oil to sensitive areas like the face and eyes and may potentially cause damage to lungs.

According to Gerstein, “prevention is the best approach. Know what the plant looks like, and teach your family to avoid it. If you do have contact with one of the poison plants and the rash has set in, the three main goals of treatment are to stop the itching, decrease inflammation, and prevent infection.”

The rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac usually lasts one to three weeks,” Gerstein noted. “Most rashes go away without treatment, and, while your skin heals, it more than likely will continue to itch. If the eruption is mild, applying calamine lotion three or four times a day can help with the itchiness. If the rash covers a large area of the body, an oatmeal or baking-soda bath may help reduce itching and discomfort. Avoid those preparations containing anesthetics or antihistamines, as often they can cause allergic eruptions themselves. Infections can occur if blisters break and bacteria enters the open wound. Keep the rash clean and any open blisters bandaged to help lessen the chance of infection.”

If you have any of the following symptoms, or if you have a serious reaction, seek immediate medical care by going to the emergency room: trouble breathing or swallowing, a rash that covers most of your body, many rashes or blisters, swelling (especially if an eyelid swells shut), a rash developing anywhere on the face or genitals, or signs of a bacterial infection, such as pain, increased redness, or pus.

“A rash from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac can usually be treated at home,” Gerstein said. “If the rash is severe, on your face, on extensive parts of your body, seeing a doctor is important, you may need a prescribed steroid ointment that you can apply to the skin, or to be placed on an oral steroid like prednisone.”