Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac

Getting Poison Ivy, Poison Oak or Poison Sumac can be quite itchy as well as painful. The key to avoiding these plants is to know what you are looking for and what steps you need to take if you do come in contact with them.
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak can be identified by the saying 'leaves of three, let it be'. Each leaf on those plants has three smaller leaves with the middle leaf of the three being longer than the other two. Poison Sumac has a row of paired leaves with an extra leaf on the end. Many times the leaves have black dots that often resemble black paint.

Poison Ivy is found east of the Rocky Mountains and usually grows as vines or shrubs. Poison Oak is found mainly to the west of the Rockies and is usually seen as a small bush or shrub but can sometimes grow as a vine. Poison Sumac is most often found in the southeast, usually in wetlands.

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac all contain an oil called urushiol. When a person comes in contact with urushiol, they often experience an allergic reaction that causes a rash. The rash may appear 12 to 72 hours after touching the plant. The rash is not contagious and does not spread. It can appear on any part of the body and is characterized by itching, redness and swelling, sometimes followed by blisters.

Once a rash from these plants develops, the affected skin should be thoroughly washed with soap and water. Any clothing that may have been in contact with urushiol should also be carefully washed. To soothe the itching, an oatmeal bath can sometimes be effective. Calamine lotion can also work to relieve the itchiness. If the rash becomes worse, you should visit a doctor for immediate medical attention as you may have a more severe reaction to urushiol.

The best way to avoid getting a rash from these plants is to learn more about them. Study what they look like and if you come across them make sure you have no contact. Be sure to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts when outdoors as well. Wear gloves if there is no way to avoid these plants. You want to keep yourself covered at all times to avoid direct contact. Skin protection products that contain bentoquatum can also be applied to the skin before going outside. Bentoquatum works to stop urushiol from absorbing into the skin.

If you want to get rid of any of these plants, make sure to get rid of the root system. Dig up the area surrounding the plant and follow it to the bottom of its roots. Make sure to wear protective gloves and clothing when handling the roots. Put the plant and its roots in a sealed bag.

If you don't want to use that method, you could always cover the area with newspaper or tarp. This will work to kill the plant by cutting off its exposure to the sunlight. Once the plant is dead, you can then remove its roots from the ground. Whatever method you choose, make sure you don't burn the plant, as this will then release the urushiol into the air where it can still attach to the skin and cause an allergic reaction.

American Academy of Dermatology
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