LEAVES OF THREE, LET IT BE!!

Ah, Poison Ivy.

photo from Glaxo Dermatology

It's that time of year that our offices become flooded with patients with lines and streaks of the angriest rashes we can see with patients scratching uncontrollably until they bleed.  There is often confusion just how patient's get this blistering rash, so let's go over a few key points.

1. POISON IVY, POISON OAK, AND SUMAC are just that, poisonous plants.  They contain an oil called URUSHIOL that is the poisonous part and is present in the plant LEAVES, STEMS, AND ROOTS.
***Poison Ivy has 3 leaves
***Poison Oak has 3 leaves                                
*******Poison Sumac has 7-13 leaves

POISON OAK
photo from Glaxo Dermatology

2.  Poison Ivy is NOT CONTAGIOUS IN ANY WAY!!  You cannot get poison ivy from the blisters of another person.  The rash and blisters are YOUR skin's reaction to the oil, and the blisters do not contain the oils.  Dogs do not get the RASH associated with poison ivy, but they can carry the oil in their fur.  You can also come in contact with it from your clothing or gardening tools.

3.  The plant particles CAN BE AIRBORNE.  If your neighbor is burning the leaves, the plant particles can become airborne and land on your skin.  On average, the rash begins 12 to 72 hours after exposure. 

4.  85% of people will react to contact with poison ivy.  You are not ALLERGIC to it.  Do NOT list it on your medical intake forms AS AN ALLERGY.  It is a poisonous plant.  The severity of the reaction can depend on the amount of oil you were exposed to and for how long it was on your skin. With subsequent exposures over a lifetime, the sensitivity of a person to the plant usually decreases.

TREATMENT TIPS IF YOU SUSPECT EXPOSURE

-Wash your body and clothes off with warm water thoroughly and quickly
-Wash your body and clothes off very quickly
-Take a bath and wash the oil off quickly
-ARE YOU SEEING A THEME HERE!!
-Topical hydrocortisone (Cortaid) can help with itching and rash
-See your dermatologist for treatment.  Often times patients do need oral medications like Prednisone. Medrol dose packs (that 5-4-3-2-1 steroid pill regimen) that are commonly prescribed are not always sufficient in dose or duration and patients will still struggle with the rash or the itch for longer periods of time than needed.  That is where it is beneficial to see a dermatologist that treats skin all the time.

LEAVES OF THREE,
LET IT BE,
BUT IF YOU CAN'T,
COME SEE ME!!

In good health,

Kris