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Ask the Doctor
| Bob in Eagle asks....Do I have poison ivy? |
| Posted - 08/16/2009 |
Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop an allergic reaction if exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
The cause of the rash, blisters, and infamous itch is urushiol (pronounced oo-roo-shee-ohl), a chemical in the sap of poison ivy, oak and sumac plants.
Reactions, treatments and preventive measures are the same for all three poison plants. Avoiding direct contact with the plants reduces the risk but doesn't guarantee against a reaction. Urushiol can stick to pets, garden tools, clothing, toys, practically anything it comes in contact with. If the sap is not washed off those objects or animals, just touching them--for example, picking up a ball or petting a dog--could cause a reaction in a susceptible person. (Animals, are not sensitive to urushiol.) If the object contaminated with sap is in a dry environment, the potency of the urushiol can last for years. Almost all parts of the body are vulnerable to the sticky urushiol, producing the characteristic linear (in a line) blistered rash.
Quick Action Needed
Because urushiol can penetrate the skin within minutes, there's no time to waste if you know you've been exposed. Cleansing may not stop the initial outbreak of the rash if more than 10 minutes has elapsed, but it can help prevent further spread.
If you've been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, if possible, stay outdoors until you complete the following first two steps:
1. Cleanse exposed skin with generous amounts of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. (Don't return to the woods or yard the same day. Alcohol removes your skin's natural protection along with the sap and any new contact will cause the urushiol to penetrate twice as fast.)
2. Wash skin with water. (Water temperature does not matter)
3. Take a regular shower with soap and warm water. Do not use soap before this point because soap will tend to pick up some of the urushiol from the surface of the skin and move it around.
Dealing with the Rash
If you don't cleanse quickly enough, or your skin is so sensitive that cleansing didn't help, redness and swelling will appear in about 12 to 48 hours. Blisters and itching will follow. For those rare instances when people react after their very first exposure, the rash appears after seven to 10 days.
Because the blisters don't contain urushiol, the oozing blisters are not contagious nor can the fluid cause further spread on the affected person's body.
The rash, blisters and itch normally disappear in 14 to 20 days without any treatment, but few can handle the itch without some relief. For mild cases, wet compresses or soaking in cool water may be effective. Oral antihistamines, such as Benadryl, can also relieve itching.
Consider over-the-counter topical corticosteroids (commonly called hydrocortisones) for safe and effective temporary relief of itching associated with poison ivy. For severe cases, prescription strength topical corticosteroid drugs can halt the reaction
Severe reactions can be treated with prescription oral corticosteroids. You should see a physician if the rash is on the face, genitals, or covers more than 30 percent of the body. Often times oral medication is prescribed. There are a number of over-the-counter products to help dry up the oozing blisters, including:
- aluminum acetate (Burrows solution)
- baking soda
- Aveeno (oatmeal bath)
- aluminum hydroxide gel
- calamine lotion
- kaolin
- zinc acetate
- zinc carbonate
- zinc oxide
Desensitization, vaccines, and barrier creams have been studied over the last several decades for their potential to protect against poison ivy reactions, but none have been approved by FDA.
So remember, if leaves of three, let them be. And DON’T ITCH.
Some common myths about poison ivy, poison oak and/or poison sumac:
Scratching the blisters or rash will spread it to other parts of the body. False
Only those parts of the body that were originally exposed to the plant or oil will be affected. True
The rash is contagious to other people. False
Only if the person with the rash has not washed off the oil from his clothing can they be a cause of giving someone else the rash. True
Once you get the rash, you will always get the rash if you come in contact with the plant. False
As stated above, with time, some people lose their sensitivity to the oil. True
Dead poison ivy/sumac/oak is safe. False
Even the dead plants will still have the oil in it and can still cause problems. True
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