Causes of the rash

• Poison ivy and poison oak rashes are caused by an allergy to a species of plant known as Rhus plants.


• All of these plants contain the sap, urushiol, which is what causes the bad reaction.


• You don’t have to come in direct contact with the leaves, roots or branches of Rhus plants to get a rash; urushiol can spread to your skin indirectly through contact with an infected pet or item of clothing.

Prevention

• Like other allergies, you aren’t born with an allergy to these plants; instead you acquire it.


• Some people are highly allergic to poison ivy and poison oak, while others never develop the allergy.


• There’s no way to desensitize yourself. Instead, your best bet is to learn to recognize these plants and avoid them.


• Also, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and shoes.


• Consider buying a barrier product like StokoGard or Ivy Block. Pay particular attention to how long these products will provide protection and to the instructions, because some will need to be washed off right away after being outdoors.


• If you think you’ve been exposed, wash the area immediately with soap and water; in order to prevent the rash, you'll need to wash off all the urushiol within 15 minutes of exposure.

The reaction

• An allergic reaction won’t appear immediately after coming into contact with poison ivy or poison oak. For some it appears in four to eight hours, while others won’t experience a rash until 48 to 72 hours later.


• The reaction to poison ivy develops in three phases, including redness and itching; rash; and red bumps or blisters, according to WebMD.


• Contrary to popular belief, once you’ve acquired a rash, it’s actually not contagious — the fluid inside the blisters won’t spread the rash to others.

Treatment

• Wash the infected area with soap and water. Also, wash your clothes and other items you’ve come into contact with after being exposed.


• To ease itching, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends taking an oatmeal bath.


• Also, invest in a product formulated with a soothing, emollient base, such as Stiefel Sarna Lotion. This lotion contains 0.5 percent each of camphor and menthol to provide immediate relief of itchy skin.


• If you develop a severe reaction, the AAD suggests seeing a dermatologist immediately or going to the emergency room.

See also:

Protecting Your Skin From Ticks

Keep Skin Safe While Camping

Sunburn Smarts