All about poison ivy and how it can be treated

Poison ivy is a plant that causes a very unpleasant rash upon contact, especially in unwary children. These plants are a major pest and are mostly found in areas of Canada and the United States. The red, uncomfortable, and itchy rash often shows up in lines or streaks, and around 24 to 48 hours later an itchy, red, inflamed rash of small blisters, or large raised areas that look like hives occur. Not everyone will come out in a rash on contact with these plants, so spotting these plants and applying the right poison ivy treatment is vital, because this is one rash where it is definitely better to be safe than sorry.

Poison ivy may appear either as shrubs or vines, and can be most easily recognized by their leaves, which contain three leaflets. These leaflets are pointed, and generally oval-shaped, and produce small whitish berries in late summer or autumn. The leaves, stems, berries and roots contain a substance known as Urushiol. The rash is caused after indirect contact with this sticky oil, which can easily spread.

After coming into contact with the oil of any of the Rhus plant category, the allergic reactions that follow fall under the category of skin problems known as contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis simply means that something that has touched the skin has caused the skin to react. After exposure to the sap of the poison ivy plant, you may experience a severe reaction starting with profound itching, and around 24 to 48 hours later depending on sensitivity symptoms may include:

• Severe itching

• Red lines or streaks on the skin, due to brushing up against the plant

• Redness, minor swelling, blisters, or oozing

• Small bumps or large raised areas that look like hives

You should always rinse the skin as soon as possible with plenty of cold running water to remove the plant oil. If the oil has been on the skin for less than six hours, thorough cleansing with ordinary soap, repeated three times, will often prevent a reaction. The oily sap may also be on your cloths, so these should also be washed. The extent of the rash varies from person to person, but will usually disappear within a week to ten days, but may be extremely itchy while it lasts. Calamine lotion is a helpful remedy to help to soothe the itch, but is not a substitute for the treatment of poison ivy and in some cases may even spread the plant oil.

Another method of obtaining relief from itching is a hot bath. Heat releases histamine, the substance in the skin cells that causes the intense itching. While taking a hot bath the itching may get worse as the histamine is released. The heat temperature should gradually be increased and continued until the itching has subsided. This process will deplete the cells of histamine, which in turn should relieve the itching for up to eight hours.

The itching may also be treated with over the counter medicine such as Hydrocortisone creams. Brands names of these creams include CaldeCORT, Cortizone-10, and Benadryl Itch Relief Cream. These are strong, local anti-inflammatory preparations. Used for a short period, these creams are quite safe and almost totally nontoxic. They’ll temporarily relieve the itching, and clear up many minor rashes, but they suppress a condition rather that cure it. Over the long term, these creams can cause thinning of the skin, so limit their use to a two week period.

If any of the over the counter creams are ineffective, or if the itching is so severe that it can't be tolerated, a call to the doctor may be neccessary. A prescribed application such as a corticosteroid cream can be applied to the lesions four to six times a day. In severe reactions or extensive exposure a steroid by mouth, such as prednisone may be prescribed. However if you want an alternative method of poison ivy treatment, or you want to relieve the burning and itching caused by the rash instantly 'Sumactin' is the answer. This product also helps to minimize the rash within 12-72 hours, and is also safe for children of all ages.

Poison ivy is not contagious. It can't be spread once the oil has been either absorbed by the skin or completely removed by washing. However it's important to note, you do not have to come into direct contact with the poison ivy plant itself to catch the rash. The plant oil can be spread by pets, contaminated clothing, or even the smoke from the burning plant itself.