Poison Oak Ivy Rash
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A Poison Oak Ivy rash can be incredibly uncomfortable and potentially medically dangerous. Learn about the skin rash and blisters and the best treatments. |
Poison Oak Ivy Rash
A large majority of people are affected from exposure to poison oak ivy plants causing a skin rash. The oil in their leaves, vines and roots (even dead plants), called urushiol (oil), causes a skin reaction or skin rash after exposure. Some people are only lightly affected, while others can become quite ill and incredibly uncomfortable. It all depends on the particular person’s individual body’s systemic at the time of the individual’s exposure.
Depending on the expsoure, the itchiness can be body-wide, with huge poison ivy and oak blisters and rash. Or, it can be just a small area affected with a tiny rash and blisters. Either way, it normally is very itchy and irritating.
The poison oak ivy rash shows up where the skin has been exposed to the poison oak ivy leaves, vines or roots, and the urushiol oil of the plant has had a chance to be absorbed. Most people begin to have symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. First it begins as a redness with itchy skin; then small blisters develop and the itchiness intensifies.
Avoiding the Poison Oak Ivy Rash
If you KNOW you have been exposed to poison oak ivy, there are several things you can do immediately (within an hour of exposure — some say withing 10-15 minutes), that may stop the skin reaction.
- RINSE with COLD Water — Do Not use Soap, Do Not use a washcloth, Do Not Use HOT water. Using soap, hot water (opens your skin’s pores), or a washcloth may spread the oil around, and help it become absorbed into your skin.
- Any clothes that you are wearing should be thrown away. The urushiol oil of the plant stays active forever, and is incredibly difficult to remove from clothing. You could try blasting them with a garden hose — although this may not work, and you could get exposed to the oil again. If your shoes are leather or plastic (not fabric), you can use rubbing alcohol to clean them. Make sure you are wearing heavy rubber gloves while cleaning them.
If the rash covers a widespread area of skin, it is important that you visit a doctor to help with treatment. A poison oak ivy infection, or serious reaction can be deadly. It is also very important to try to reduce the itchiness, especially with children, so that the rash and blisters are not constantly scratched.
Constant scratching (especially with dirty hands or fingernails), can lead to a skin infection, which could become dangerous.
Poison Oak Ivy Rash Treatments
Since poison oak, poison ivy and summac have been “bothering” us for hundreds of years, there many treatment and remedies, as well as advice available. If your rash has already developed, and you are itching intensely, you may wish to take as HOT of shower as you can possibly stand. Again, this is AFTER the poison oak ivy rash has already developed. The heat of the shower seems to help stop the itching for several hours.
Other well known rash treatments include using Caladryl. This lotion is usually found in most local drugstores, corner markets or even grocery stores. Supposedly the lotion will relieve the itch and help dry out the blisters. Unfortunately, several reports online from users of Caladryl for poison oak ivy rash treatment state it does not work well for them.
We discuss other poison oak ivy treatments on our website — click here
More Informative Poison Oak Ivy Rash information:
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Dealing with Poison Ivy and Poison Oak – Poison ivy and poison oak pose serious problems for some gardeners. While some people can touch the plants without getting a rash, others aren’t so lucky.
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Protect Yourself from Poison Plants – Poison Oak: Resembles poison ivy but is usually more shrub-like. Leaves resemble oak leaves, and are lighter green on the underside of the plant. From August to November it typically produces white flowers. …
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