Poison
ivy is an intensely itchy allergic skin reaction that results from contact
with plants of the Anacrdiaceae family. Poison ivy, poison oak and
poison sumac are the most commonly encountered members of this plant
family. Direct contact with urushiol, a natural resin present in these
plants, is what causes the allergic reaction.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop with 48 hours after
exposure. Intense itching is often the first sign, followed by red,
inflamed patches of skin that later turn to blisters. The skin lesions
characteristically appear in straight lines or streaks. Commonly affected
areas include the hands, arms, legs and genital regions, but the rash may
occur anywhere.
Prevention
If you have contracted poison ivy while gardening in
your yard, removing these pesty plants is highly recommended. If you know
or think you may have been exposed to poison ivy, wash well with soap and
water within 5 minutes of exposure. It may prevent an eruption. In
addition, protective barrier creams such as Ivy Guard are available over
the counter. Application of a barrier cream before an afternoon in the
garden or woods has been shown to prevent or diminish the allergic
reaction in susceptible individuals.
Treatment
When the eruption is mild or limited to a few areas,
application of topical steroid creams or lotions is often effective. See
your dermatologist to obtain a prescription. In more severe or widespread
cases, oral corticosteroids administered by your physician may be
required.
Most people develop symptoms 24-48 hours after contact. The interval
varies considerably, because of individual sensitivity and the amount of
sap contacting the skin. Healed areas often remain supersensitive to
further contact for several months.
The
first symptom of poisoning is a severe itching of the skin. Later, a red
inflammation and a blistering of the skin occurs. In severe cases, oozing
sores develop. The rash spreads by the poisonous sap, not as the result of
contamination from sores. Although extremely irritating, most cases
disappear in a week or 10 days. In the meantime, relief may be found
through the application of medication available in most drugstores.
However, severe rashes, especially those covering large areas or
accompanied by above-normal body temperatures, should be examined by a
physician. Medical treatment is most effective if applied before the
oozing sores appear.
