POISON IVY

 

Poison Ivy
In the East, Midwest and South, it grows as a vine. In the far Northern and Western United States, Canada and around the Great Lakes, it grows as a shrub. Each leaf has three leaflets.

Poison Oak
In the West, this plant may grow as a vine but usually is a shrub. (pictured). In the East, it grows as a shrub. Hair grows on its fruit, trunk and leaves, which have three leaflets.

Poison Sumac
Grows in standing water in peat bogs in the Northeast and Midwest and in swampy areas in parts of the Southeast. Each leaf has seven to 13 leaflets.

These plants will have different colors through seasons and climates.

Poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak are the most common plants producing (urushiol) an allergic contact dermatitis . The best way to prevent a reaction is to recognize and avoid all contact with their leaves.

SYMPTOMS

  • Skin reaction varies in severity; there may be generalized swelling, rash, itching, and blisters.
  • Some people may suffer headache, fever, and malaise.

TREATMENT

  • As soon as possible after contact, whether or not a reaction occurs, remove all contaminated clothing, including shoes, and wash all exposed areas thoroughly with strong soap. Apply alcohol and rinse copiously with water.
  • If a rash appears, apply calamine or other soothing lotion. Corticosteroid creams or lotions also ease itching and swelling, but follow label instructions. Apply these creams or lotions only to limited areas and do not use them on young children. If you have questions about their application, consult your doctor.
  • Cover weeping or oozing blisters with sterile gauze moistened in a mild solution of 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 quart of water.
  • If fever or severe symptoms such as widespread rash or involvement of mouth, eyes or genitals occur, see a doctor. Your doctor may treat the reaction with other medicines, such as prednisone.
  • As an alternative therapy, herbalists recommend covering poison ivy blisters with a bandage soaked with tea made from equal portions of white oak bark and lime water.

summer poison ivy
 summer		 spring poison ivy spring fall poison ivy fall
 it climbs creeping poison ivy
 it creeps		 bush poison ivy
  it's a bush

poison ivy at edge of field
where it grows

winter poison ivy
  winter

beach poison ivy
at the beach

 

Other Treatments

IF SEVERE BLISTERING SEE YOUR DOCTOR.      TRY NOT TO SCRATCH.                                          

TAKE A  SHOWER (NOT A BATH)   USE COOL WATER FIRST THEN WARM,  IT HELPS  KEEP THE SKIN PORES CLOSED SO YOU CAN RINSE OFF SOME OF THE  POISON IVY TOXINS.  THIS WORKS FOR FIBERGLASS INSULATION TOO.

USE SOMETHING LIKE YELLOW DIAL SOAP OR ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAP

USE TOWELS ONE TIME AND THEN WASH THEM.  DON'T LET SOMEBODY ELSE USE THEM.

CHANGE CLOTHES TWICE A DAY AND WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING

CHANGE BED SHEETS DAILY AND WASH THEM

THERE ARE SEVERAL GOOD ANTI ITCH  LOTIONS ON THE MARKET

A NEWER ONE THAT WORKS WELL  IS CLEAR BENADRYL, GEL OR SPRAY,

IVY DRY,  HYDROCORTISONE CREAM 1 %, AVEENO ANTI ITCH CREAM,  OR CALAMINE LOTION.

10 DAYS TO 2 WEEKS IS A NORMAL COURSE FOR POISON IVY

MORE OFTEN THEN PEOPLE REALIZE THEY RE-INFECT THEMSELVES AND SPREAD IT TO OTHERS

SOME OTHER THINGS TO DO:

IF YOUR ON A LONG  CAMP OUT.  MIX ONE CUP OF OATMEAL WITH TWO CUPS OF WATER, MIX IT, PUT IT IN A CLOTH AND WRING IT OUT, THEN DAB IT ON THE POISON IVY.  YOU CAN PURCHASE AN OVER THE COUNTER PREMIXED SOLUTION CALLED (AVENNO)  AT DRUG STORES.

AT HOME:  MIX THE OATMEAL AND WATER AND PUT IT IN A TUB WITH SIX INCHES OF WATER AND SOAK IN IT FOR 30 MINUTES.

1 CUP EACH  BAKING SODA AND STARCH IN EQUAL AMOUNTS IN SIX INCHES OF BATH WATER AND SOAK FOR 30 MINUTES. (ANTI-ITCH)

COOL CAMPERS:  PUT ONE TEASPOON OF SALT IN 1 PINT  OF WATER AND SOAK A

TOWEL IN IT.  PUT ON POISON IVY 15 MIN 3 TIMES A DAY WITH NEW MIX.