How to Identify Poison Ivy and Treatments
By, Caroline Glick, PA-C
The neighborhood pools are opening, the birds are singing, and the smell of grilling on the barbeque is in the air: summer is finally here! Most of us already know to apply sunscreen and bug spray to protect our skin before venturing outside. But it is also important to know what to do when summer fun is disrupted by uncomfortable rashes after contact with poison ivy.
How to identify poison ivy
Poison ivy is most common east of the Rocky Mountains, poison oak can be found west of the Rockies, and poison sumac tends to be located in the Southeast. Poison ivy and poison oak can be identified by three leaflets with flowering branches arising from one stem. Other plants that can cause a similar rash include the cashew nut tree and the mango tree. This website has great photo examples to help you identify poison ivy.
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac contain an oil called urushiol, which causes an itchy, sometimes blistering rash when it comes into contact with the skin. After the skin is exposed to urushiol, symptoms can occur within 12 to 48 hours.
Click here to see what the rashes look like.
Treating exposure to poison ivy, oak, and sumac
If a person has been exposed to a plant with urushiol, a mild soap can wash off a significant amount of urushiol. Clothing, and even our pets that might have urushiol on them, should also be washed. Pets usually do not have a reaction to poison ivy, but urushiol can be on their fur and then rub off on a person’s hands when petting them.
Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and cool, wet compresses can help with the discomfort and the itch of the rash. Mild rashes can be treated at home. Dermatologists and health care providers can also prescribe topical and oral medications to help. The rash will usually resolve within one to three weeks without treatment, or faster with treatment.
Sources:
American Academy of Dermatology. Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac: How to treat the rash. Retrieved 24 May 2023, from https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/poison-ivy/treat-rash
Prock, L., & McGovern, T. (2022, February). Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron) dermatitis. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/poison-ivy-toxicodendron-dermatitis?search=poison%20ivy&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~57&usage_type=default&display_rank=1