These airborne particles can land on the skin. Diagnosis and Treatment If you have any of the following symptoms, go to the emergency room right away: Trouble breathing or swallowing. Rash covers most of your body.
You have many rashes or blisters. Swelling, especially if an eyelid swells shut. Rash develops anywhere on your face or genitals. Much of your skin itches or nothing seems to ease the itch. How do dermatologists diagnose poison ivy?
How do dermatologists treat poison ivy? Outcome A rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Tips for Managing A rash from poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac is caused by an oil found in these plants called urushiol you-ROO-shee-all. If you have any of the following, go to the emergency room right away: You have trouble breathing or swallowing. The rash covers most of your body. You experience swelling, especially if an eyelid swells shut.
The rash develops anywhere on your face or genitals. Much of your skin itches, or nothing seems to ease the itch. To treat a rash from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac and help stop the itch, dermatologists recommend the following: Immediately rinse your skin with lukewarm, soapy water. If you can rinse your skin immediately after touching poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, you may be able to rinse off some of the oil.
If not washed off, the oil can spread from person to person and to other areas of your body. Wash your clothing. Thoroughly wash all of the clothes you were wearing when you came into contact with the poisonous plant. The oil can stick to clothing, and if it touches your skin, it can cause another rash. Wash everything that may have the oil on its surface. Do not scratch, as scratching can cause an infection. Leave blisters alone. If blisters open, do not remove the overlying skin, as the skin can protect the raw wound underneath and prevent infection.
Take short, lukewarm baths. To ease the itch, take short, lukewarm baths in a colloidal oatmeal preparation, which you can buy at your local drugstore. You can also draw a bath and add one cup of baking soda to the running water.
Taking short, cool showers may also help. Consider calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Apply calamine lotion to skin that itches. If you have a mild case, a hydrocortisone cream or lotion may also help. Apply cool compresses to the itchy skin. You can make a cool compress by wetting a clean washcloth with cold water and wringing it out so that it does not drip.
Then, apply the cool cloth to the itchy skin. Poison ivy rash often appears in a straight line because of the way the plant brushes against your skin. But if you develop a rash after touching a piece of clothing or pet fur that has urushiol on it, the rash may be more spread out. You can also transfer the oil to other parts of your body with your fingers.
The reaction usually develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasts two to three weeks. A poison ivy plant typically has three leaflets branching off a single stem. It may grow as a low plant or bush or as a vine. Low-lying poison ivy plants are usually found among groups of weeds and other plants. Poison ivy leaves vary greatly in their shape, color and texture.
Some leaves have smooth edges, while others have a jagged, tooth-like appearance. In the fall, the leaves may turn yellow, orange or red. Poison ivy can produce small, greenish flowers and green or off-white berries. The poison sumac plant has smooth-edged leaves and can grow as a bush or tree. Unlike poison ivy and poison oak, it doesn't grow in a three-leaf-per-stem pattern. Poison ivy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to an oily resin called urushiol.
It's found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. This oily resin is very sticky, so it easily attaches to your skin, clothing, tools, equipment and pet's fur. You can get a poison ivy reaction from:.
Pus that oozes from blisters doesn't contain urushiol and won't spread the rash. But it's possible to get poison ivy rash from someone if you touch plant resin that's still on the person or contaminated clothing.
Your risk of a rash is increased if you participate in outdoor activities that put you at higher risk of exposure to poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac:. If you scratch a poison ivy rash, bacteria under your fingernails may cause the skin to become infected. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Specific treatment for poison ivy will be discussed with you by your healthcare provider based on:.
Making sure you avoid the poisonous plants is the best treatment. It is important to teach your family members what the plants look like and not to touch them. If contact with the plants has already happened, you should remove the oils from the skin as soon as possible by cleansing with an ordinary soap.
Repeat the cleaning with the soap 3 times. There are also alcohol-based wipes that help remove the oils. Wash all clothes and shoes also, because the oils can remain on these. You may use calamine lotion or oatmeal baths to help with the itching. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or antihistamines may also help if itching is more severe. It is also recommended to bring poison ivy wash or cleansers like Tecnu Original or Zanfel to remove the oil toxin from the skin. Bring prescription antihistamines if one has a history of extreme allergic reactions to poison ivy.
If itchiness starts, refrain from touching parts of the body, especially the eyes, after scratching. Make sure to clean the hands well after scratching.
Poison Ivy Treatment Whether one is sure or suspects possible exposure to any of the plants, make sure to thoroughly wash affected areas immediately with mild soap and cold water. The cold will treat or prevent inflammations as rashes thrive in warm conditions.
Wash clothes exposed to poison ivy immediately so as not to spread the toxin. Take a cold bath. One can opt for an oatmeal bath or a baking soda bath.
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