Poison Oak Ivy

The normal poison oak ivy symptoms include developing an intense itching of the skin and redness in the areas of skin that has been exposed to the poison oak or ivy urushiol oil found on the plants leaves, vines and roots. This occurs approximately 24 to 48 hours after exposure. For some people, it happens faster, others may take a longer time to develop the redness.

After the itching and redness appears, a rash of the area(s) follow. Then small to large blisters may form, and then begin oozing.

How fast and how intense the reaction of the exposure all depends on the particular person’s individual body’s systemic at the time of the individual’s exposure.

Problems Identifying Poison Oak Ivy Symptoms

There are sometimes problems in identifying poison oak ivy symptoms in that many people are unaware they have been exposed to the poisonous plants. Since the symptoms may not appear until 48 hours after exposure, they may not associate the “walk in the woods” or even gardening that may have occured a few days prior.

Another problem is the rash can be misdiagnosed. If the rash only appears in a small area, many people believe they have received a “spider bite,” a chiggers attack, or an unusual “bug bite.” They may also believe the symptoms may be an allergic reaction to something else, rather than to the poison oak ivy exposure.

One misdiagnosis that occurs often is the rash may identified as “shingles.” Or, sometimes worse, “shingles” could be misdiagnosed as poison oak or poison ivy symptoms.

We say “or worse” because treatment for “shingles” is entirely different than treatment for poison plant symptoms. In addition, non-treatment of “shingles” can lead to far worse after-effects (sometimes), than non-treatment of poison oak or ivy rashes. Therefore, if your rash develops first on your back, begins to wrap around the front of one side of your body you may have “shingles.” (Shingles actually can develop anywhere on your body, yet it usually is on one side, and follows nerves). Also if you KNOW you have not been exposed to poison oak, poison ivy or summac, then you may have “shingles.”

How Long Poison Oak Ivy Symptoms Last

The normal course of poison oak and poison ivy symptoms usually last about two weeks. Although some people clear up faster and others may take longer to heal.