How can poison ivy be recognized

It rarely is found in midwestern states. Poison sumac is much less common than poison ivy or poison oak. It is found in wooded, swampy areas, such as Florida and parts of other southeastern states. It is also found in wet, wooded areas in the northern United States.

Blahd, Jr. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. Give a Gift. Here is how you can tell the plants apart: Poison ivy A usually has three broad, tear-shaped leaves. Symptoms You can develop a rash by touching poison ivy, oak or sumac — and by transfer of the oil from someone or something such as a dog or clothes that has come in contact with the poison.

Treatment After contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac, immediately wash the exposed areas thoroughly with soap and water. If a rash develops, there are several things you can try to relieve the itching: Take a bath with colloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal ground to a powder so that it can evenly disperse in water. You can buy it from the drug store or make your own by grinding up dry oatmeal in a blender.

Wet a washcloth with warm water and place it on the affected area. Apply calamine lotion to the affected area. Consider a steroid cream hydrocortisone if itching persists. Here are five facts to know if you come into contact with one of these poisonous plants: The rash is not contagious, but the oil is easily spread. Poison ivy, oak and sumac release an oil called urushiol that can cause a rash a.

The rash usually appears hours after exposure to the oil. Touching the plant is one way to be exposed. You can also be exposed indirectly by touching items with urushiol on them such as clothing, tools, or even pets.

You may develop multiple rashes on different parts of your body. Contrary to common belief, the rash itself is not contagious. The rash spreads by touching the oil and then touching another area of skin. Long clothes and washing are the most effective prevention methods. Any clothing that may have been exposed to one of these plants should be washed immediately with detergent and hot water to avoid spreading oil remnants.

So, when attempting to identify poison ivy, make sure to look for three leaves with pointy tips that are loosely connected on each stem. The middle leaf tends to have a small stem, while the two side leaves grow off the vine.

When looking from above, the leaves are a dark, waxy green, while from below they appear a light, fuzzy green. The waxiness makes the leaves appear shiny, but this isn't always an indicator as they can seem dull after rain.

Most importantly, don't touch poison ivy when trying to identify it. If in doubt, it's best to steer clear because getting just a little of the plant's oil on you can cause a very unpleasant rash. Ideally, you were successful in recognizing poison ivy and managed to avoid it, but this is not always possible. So, if you did come in contact with poison ivy, your best option is to use a cold compress on the affected area.

Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream or antihistamines can also be used to stop the itching. If the rash is on your face, close to your eyes, or covers a significant area of your body, visit one of our Urgent Care centers in the Greater Augusta County area. Some individuals will have a more severe allergic reaction, in which case you may need emergency care immediately. Like poison ivy, poison oak can grow as a shrub or a climbing vine, and its leaves also grow in groups of three off the stem.

Unlike poison ivy, though, the edges of the leaves have a wavy appearance and, as the name indicates, they look somewhat like oak leaves. The tops of the leaves are usually glossy green, but they can be yellow, red or brown depending on the season and how healthy the plant is. The underside of the leaves appear more velvety and feature a lighter green color. The stems have a slightly greyish tinge to them, and can have what looks like hair or tiny thorns.