Jun

16

Poison Ivy Symptoms

Filed Under Poison Ivy Symptoms 

This is the time of year that many of us are trying to reconnect with nature whether its on a long walk through a wooded trail or playing a round of golf. You may however want to think twice about wondering off the trail or chasing that errant golf shot into the brush, as poison ivy and similar plants may be waiting for you with a nasty surprise. About 85% of those who stumble onto poison ivy will experience poison ivy symptoms with in a few hours to a few days.

Poison Ivy Symptoms

poison_ivy_leafPoison ivy which happens to belong to the cashew and mango family contains a oil known as urushiol that is responsible for causing poison ivy symptoms. The symptoms can also occur from secondary contact with a object that has touched urushiol oil and then your skin. So for example if that errant golf shot you hit goes into the rough and takes a good bounce back onto the fairway, and it happened to go through some poison ivy along the way your golf ball may be contaminated. Pets can also carry the urushiol oil in their fur and infect you with it if they were in contact with poison ivy.

Poison Ivy Contact Dermatitis

  • The skin may start off with just a little redness which blisters and becomes very itchy before a poison ivy rash appears.
  • Swelling may also occur.
  • Scratching the infected area could lead to a bacteria infection and related fever.
  • After a short time skin may become dry with  scales. Normally poison ivy symptoms will disappear after a few weeks on its own.

Treating Poison Ivy Symptoms

  • If you think you may have come in contact with poison ivy wash the area with soap but do not spread it around. Poison ivy symptoms will occur where the plant made contact with the skin or where contaminated clothes or hands have touched the skin.
  • Remove any clothing that may have touched the poison ivy plant. Do not touch other parts of your body until your hands have been washed as they may infect other areas of the body.
  • Washing the area in vinegar is also worth trying if caught early.
  • Soaking the area with a cool compress may help.
  • Soaking in oatmeal is also sometimes recommended.
  • Calamine oil may help or a moisturizer may be used when skin becomes dry, though some may be irritating.
  • You may want to cover up any open areas of skin to prevent infection.
  • Severe reactions require the care of a doctor.

Preventing Poison Ivy

The old saying “leaves of three let it be” still holds true as one of the
easiest ways to recognize or avoid poison ivy. The leaves of poison ivy change color with the season just like leaves on a tree.

Obviously covering up exposed skin and avoiding wooded and over grown areas is the best way to prevent poison ivy, but you can also buy cream like ivy block that you put on your skin to act as a barrier between it and the poison ivy urushiol oil.

Lastly poison ivy is not contagious,  poison ivy rashes or the fluid in them can not be spread to others or to other parts of the body

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