How to Identify Poison Ivy – Its Signs, Stages and Treatment of Rash

Poison ivy is a common wild plant which produces an oily resin known as urushiol. This oily resin is present in the poison ivy oak, leaves, and stems. A simple touching or brushing against this plant causes an allergic reaction which is referred to as a poison ivy rash. The rash caused by poison ivy may be visible in a couple of days but if the person has been exposed for the first time it may take longer for the rash to appear. As soon as someone comes in contact with the plant the skin must be washed away immediately or else the chances of occurrence of the rash increase.

It is very easy to identify a person or child suffering from the rash of poison ivy, specifically if it is a case of classic poison ivy. People or children who suffer from the poison ivy rash usually have an exposure history, for instance, hiking in the woods, spending a day at the lake, and camping trip. When a person gets exposed to the poison ivy there are certain symptoms which develop within a week. It through these symptoms a person can identify a poison ivy rash, for instance, a severely itchy rash would appear on the skin, blisters, and vesicles filled with fluid would be formed, and red bumps would appear either in streaks or a straight line in the area of the body which directly comes in contact with the plant.

Given below are some tips which help in understanding as to what poison ivy looks like

• The leaves of the poison ivy are compound leaves which mean every leaf comprises of three leaflets.
• In every set of the leaflets, the leaflet in the middle is longer in comparison to the other two side leaflets.
• The side leaflets of the poison ivy have such a miniature stem that it is nearly impossible to see.
• The two side leaflets of the poison ivy will have stems in the directly opposite direction to each other.
• On the vine, the three leaflets set are never in the opposite direction with respect to each other.
• Every leaflet has alternate veins along the main vein of the leaf.

The bacteria under the fingernails may lead to an infection of the skin if a person scratches his/her poison ivy rash. A person would come to know if he/she has a poison ivy infection when the following conditions would occur

• A person with a poison ivy infection would have a fever above 100 F.
• The blisters formed on the skin would start oozing pus.
• The allergic reaction becomes widespread and severe.
• The rash would not get better after a few weeks.
• The skin of the person would continue to swell.
• The eyes, mouth, and the genital areas of the person would get affected by the rash.

The signs and symptoms exhibited by a person suffering from the poison ivy rash are inclusive of

• Difficulty in breathing if a person inhales the smoke after the poison ivy is burnt.
• Formation of blisters on the skin
• Severe itching
• Redness on the skin
• Swelling

These symptoms would occur within 12 to 48 hours after the exposure to the plant. The part of the skin which gets greatly exposed to the plant would develop the rash early in comparison to other parts of the skin with limited exposure.

The poison ivy rash is not contagious thus it cannot be spread from one person to another. However, there are certain scenarios through which the poison ivy rash can spread. The scenarios which can lead to the spreading of the poison ivy rash are given below

• Clothing: the fibers in the clothes can spread the poison ivy oil. If the clothes containing poison ivy oils are not properly washed with soap and water then upon wearing those same clothes the person may get the rash again. Also if another person comes in contact with the clothes containing the oil then he/she may also develop a rash.
• Animals: pets like dogs and cats can also come in contact with the poison ivy plant. In such a scenario the oil gets stuck on their fur. When the person touches his/her pet there are chances that poison ivy rash may develop.
• Recreational equipment: when a person goes out for camping or hiking he/she carries the necessary equipment. If during camping or hiking the equipment comes in contact with the poison ivy plant then the oil from the plant gets transferred to the equipment. Whenever a person would touch the equipment it is possible for him/her to develop a poison ivy rash.

The treatments associated with poison ivy are generally restricted to the self-care methods. The poison ivy rash would usually go away after a couple of weeks. However, if the rash starts spreading to various parts of the body and large numbers of blisters get formed on the skin then a doctor may recommend oral corticosteroid like prednisone. A doctor may also advise topical creams containing hydrocortisone to provide relief in the symptoms of the rash. If a bacterial infection develops at the site of the poison ivy rash then a doctor may recommend an oral antibiotic to treat the infection.

The natural remedies which can be useful in both in the prevention and the treatment of poison ivy rash are given below

• For removing the oil from the skin a person can use alcohol wipes if there is no immediate access to the soap and water. However, washing the body part with soap and water can also remove the oil. Another remedy which can be used for removing the oil is through lemon juice. The juice of the lemon is squeezed on to a cotton pad and the exposed area is wiped with the pad.
• To reduce the itching and inflammation a person can take a bath with lukewarm water containing baking soda can be very helpful. Cold compress also provides the necessary soothing effect on the affected area.
• For reducing the allergic reaction a paste of bentonite clay and water can be applied to the affected area.
• To speed the process of healing from poison ivy rash a person can soak a paper bag in apple cider vinegar and put it across the area having the rash.

The poison ivy rash can be very irritating. A person must avoid brushing against poison ivy plant at any cost. The rash caused by the oil of the poison ivy is not contagious but it can spread. In the majority of the cases the rashes do not require any treatment as they usually go away after some time. However, if the symptoms start getting worse then a doctor must be consulted immediately.